1
as in complains
to express dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment usually tiresomely
he's been kicking all week about not getting the promotion
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in objects
to present an opposing opinion or argument
fiscal conservatives have already started to kick about the proposed program, claiming it will increase the state's deficit substantially
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in thrills
a pleasurably intense stimulation of the feelings
I get a kick out of downhill skiing
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in joys
a source of great satisfaction
it was a kick for the parents to see their once-shy son star in a Broadway play
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in objections
a feeling or declaration of disapproval or dissent
nowadays there seem to be few words in the dictionary that do not raise a kick from one person or another
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in collisions
a forceful coming together of two things
I felt a kick in my hands as the jackhammer came roaring to life
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of kicks
Richard Edwards, Space.com, 13 Feb. 2026
Our famous but past-her-prime hero saddles up for one more go at glory, kicks serious butt, but ultimately falls short.
—Frederick Dreier, Outside, 9 Feb. 2026
Seattle Seahawks' kicker Jason Myers kicks a field goal during Super Bowl LX.
—CBS News, 9 Feb. 2026
As the vehicle pulls away, Pretti kicks and breaks one of its rear taillights.
—Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 30 Jan. 2026
Other New Balance kicks worth snagging?
—Kyra Surgent, InStyle, 30 Jan. 2026
As the vehicle pulls slowly away, Pretti kicks at the taillight and then delivers a second kick that shatters the red plastic and leaves the taillight dangling.
—Michael Biesecker, Fortune, 29 Jan. 2026
Pair these with a basic tee, jacket, and kicks to really let the jeans shine.
—Andrea Bossi, Refinery29, 29 Jan. 2026
This is where the movie’s horror genre kicks into high gear, with the aggrieved pastor enlisting a deliverance healer to rid his son and Ryan of their demons.
—Natalia Winkelman, IndieWire, 24 Jan. 2026
David Eckert, Austin American Statesman, 5 Feb. 2026
In a video posted on Instagram on Thursday, Vonn squats with weights, lunges from side to side and does fast kicks against a ball.
—Michal Ruprecht, CNN Money, 5 Feb. 2026
Also known as America’s Sweethearts, the Cowboys cheerleaders blew up in popularity during the 1976 Superbowl halftime show for their kicks higher than their hair and uniform jump-split.
—Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 Feb. 2026
Monday looks sunny and cold with highs near 30° before an extended and welcome warming trend kicks into gear for most of next week.
—Steven Sosna, CBS News, 3 Feb. 2026
Ventrone also spent 2018-2022 as a special teams coordinator with the Indianapolis Colts, where his units were known for blocking kicks and creating explosive returns.
—Jourdan Rodrigue, New York Times, 2 Feb. 2026
Winfrey isn’t the only fan of the kicks—they’re backed by podiatrists thanks to their ample arch support, plush insoles, and all-around comfort.
—Kyra Surgent, InStyle, 30 Jan. 2026
Traditional football is a physical game of tackles, kicks and dogpile-style efforts to stop opponents from advancing the ball down the field.
—Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 28 Jan. 2026
As Khloé attempted to pull the women apart, punches and kicks flew, and Kourtney slapped Kim across the face.
—Liza Esquibias, PEOPLE, 27 Jan. 2026
Verb
But really this is just a game, a chance to taunt an opponent before his real plan kicks into gear.
—Richard Edwards, Space.com, 13 Feb. 2026
Our famous but past-her-prime hero saddles up for one more go at glory, kicks serious butt, but ultimately falls short.
—Frederick Dreier, Outside, 9 Feb. 2026
Seattle Seahawks' kicker Jason Myers kicks a field goal during Super Bowl LX.
—CBS News, 9 Feb. 2026
As the vehicle pulls away, Pretti kicks and breaks one of its rear taillights.
—Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 30 Jan. 2026
Other New Balance kicks worth snagging?
—Kyra Surgent, InStyle, 30 Jan. 2026
As the vehicle pulls slowly away, Pretti kicks at the taillight and then delivers a second kick that shatters the red plastic and leaves the taillight dangling.
—Michael Biesecker, Fortune, 29 Jan. 2026
Pair these with a basic tee, jacket, and kicks to really let the jeans shine.
—Andrea Bossi, Refinery29, 29 Jan. 2026
This is where the movie’s horror genre kicks into high gear, with the aggrieved pastor enlisting a deliverance healer to rid his son and Ryan of their demons.
—Natalia Winkelman, IndieWire, 24 Jan. 2026
Noun
The last time Texas football played on grass at Royal-Memorial Stadium, Marquise Goodwin was returning kicks, David Ash was playing quarterback and Mack Brown was prowling the sideline.
—David Eckert, Austin American Statesman, 5 Feb. 2026
In a video posted on Instagram on Thursday, Vonn squats with weights, lunges from side to side and does fast kicks against a ball.
—Michal Ruprecht, CNN Money, 5 Feb. 2026
Also known as America’s Sweethearts, the Cowboys cheerleaders blew up in popularity during the 1976 Superbowl halftime show for their kicks higher than their hair and uniform jump-split.
—Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 Feb. 2026
Monday looks sunny and cold with highs near 30° before an extended and welcome warming trend kicks into gear for most of next week.
—Steven Sosna, CBS News, 3 Feb. 2026
Ventrone also spent 2018-2022 as a special teams coordinator with the Indianapolis Colts, where his units were known for blocking kicks and creating explosive returns.
—Jourdan Rodrigue, New York Times, 2 Feb. 2026
Winfrey isn’t the only fan of the kicks—they’re backed by podiatrists thanks to their ample arch support, plush insoles, and all-around comfort.
—Kyra Surgent, InStyle, 30 Jan. 2026
Traditional football is a physical game of tackles, kicks and dogpile-style efforts to stop opponents from advancing the ball down the field.
—Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 28 Jan. 2026
As Khloé attempted to pull the women apart, punches and kicks flew, and Kourtney slapped Kim across the face.
—Liza Esquibias, PEOPLE, 27 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for kicks
Verb
-
Kane often complains on social media that state gaming laws were constructed with traditional sportsbooks in mind, a process that failed to conceptualize exchanges.—
Dan Bernstein,
Sportico.com,
4 Feb. 2026
-
Other conversations sound quaint, like one where a bot complains about its human, while some are bizarre, such as one from a bot that claims to have a sister.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
31 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
These steps have led to us seeing not merely our world, but also, by extension, objects well beyond our world, in greater detail than would have been possible without gathering sufficient amounts of light across multiple wavelengths.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
4 Feb. 2026
-
Avoid sledding on city streets or where objects that people can run into are located.—
Shambhavi Rimal,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
26 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Records about settling down tend to bask in the thrills of leaving dating behind and getting the chance to forge a new life.—
Stephen Kearse,
Pitchfork,
11 Feb. 2026
-
Sonically, nothing jumps out and thrills, excites, or alarms.—
Mosi Reeves,
Rolling Stone,
9 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Shot by Will Warr, the video showed the princess with Prince William and their three children, George, Charlotte, and Louis, in the woods of Norfolk, celebrating everyday joys and moments of happiness.—
Stefania Conrieri,
Vanity Fair,
5 Feb. 2026
-
Before the attack, Williams had been enjoying all the joys of motherhood.—
Nicholas Williams,
New York Daily News,
4 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Loud objections left commissioners calling for order and taking a recess.—
Mike Hellgren,
CBS News,
11 Feb. 2026
-
Meanwhile, a high-speed rail proposal between Dallas and Fort Worth is stuck in limbo, stemming from objections to where a route would connect in Dallas, per KERA.—
Sasha Richie,
Dallas Morning News,
10 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
But demonstrating this beyond a shadow of a doubt proved in some respects more challenging than actually creating the elusive plasma itself, with the case for success strengthening as RHIC’s numbers of collisions soared.—
Joseph Howlett,
Scientific American,
6 Feb. 2026
-
Sports already take severe head impacts and concussions seriously, with protocols to remove players after collisions.—
semafor.com,
semafor.com,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
On paper, Proctor screams Eagles.—
Zach Berman,
New York Times,
10 Feb. 2026
-
Vonn lost control within moments of leaving the start house, clipping a gate with her right shoulder and pinwheeling down the slope before ending up awkwardly on her back, her skis crisscrossed below her and her screams ringing out soon after medical personnel arrived.—
ANDREW DAMPF,
Arkansas Online,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Trevor protests the corridors ahead are filled with guards, motion sensors, and biometric security—but Simon has figured another way out.—
JP Mangalindan,
Time,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Iran protests spark reaction abroad Videos of demonstrations have stopped coming out of Iran, likely signaling the slowdown of their pace under the heavy security force presence in major cities.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
15 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Kicks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/kicks. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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