1
as in ruses
a clever often underhanded means to achieve an end
tried every knack I knew to get him to spill the beans
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in talents
a special and usually inborn ability
a jazz musician with an incredible knack for improvisation
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of knacks
From clothing to toys, knick-knacks to collectibles, all sorts of items were seen for sale on Saturday.
—
Heather McRea, Oc Register, 10 Mar. 2026
At least Stijn Verhoeven and Ewa Mroczkowska’s nuanced production design for the interiors, including bourgeois homes full of kitschy knick-knacks, anonymous office spaces and frigidly austere villas, tell a story of their own about the material culture of the era.
—Leslie Felperin, HollywoodReporter, 16 Feb. 2026
And there are all sorts of knick-knacks — from hair clips to birdhouses that her dad makes.
—Bo Evans, CBS News, 4 Feb. 2026
These aren’t just knick knacks that will end up forgotten in the back of a closet.
—Jeaneen Russell, PEOPLE, 28 Jan. 2026
Flamingo Island Flea Market Just off I-75 awaits a cornucopia of vintage decor, houseplants, pottery, and other knick-knacks.
—Carrie Honaker, Travel + Leisure, 25 Jan. 2026
The former country farmhouse feel with shelves full of knick-knacks above the dining booths and mismatched coffee cups waiting on the tables has been replaced with more minimalist decor.
—Regina Elling, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Jan. 2026
Using social media to get the word out, @phxtrinkettrade and @garfieldtrinkettrade have created boxes full of assorted knick-knacks that people can come and trade, from stickers and bookmarks to mini figurines and crystals.
—Dina Kaur, AZCentral.com, 14 Jan. 2026
Best Wayfair New Year Super Sale Decor Deals If your home feels bare after packing away holiday knick-knacks, consider adding a decorative touch to liven things up.
—Jacqueline Tempera, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Jan. 2026
Heather McRea, Oc Register, 10 Mar. 2026
At least Stijn Verhoeven and Ewa Mroczkowska’s nuanced production design for the interiors, including bourgeois homes full of kitschy knick-knacks, anonymous office spaces and frigidly austere villas, tell a story of their own about the material culture of the era.
—Leslie Felperin, HollywoodReporter, 16 Feb. 2026
And there are all sorts of knick-knacks — from hair clips to birdhouses that her dad makes.
—Bo Evans, CBS News, 4 Feb. 2026
These aren’t just knick knacks that will end up forgotten in the back of a closet.
—Jeaneen Russell, PEOPLE, 28 Jan. 2026
Flamingo Island Flea Market Just off I-75 awaits a cornucopia of vintage decor, houseplants, pottery, and other knick-knacks.
—Carrie Honaker, Travel + Leisure, 25 Jan. 2026
The former country farmhouse feel with shelves full of knick-knacks above the dining booths and mismatched coffee cups waiting on the tables has been replaced with more minimalist decor.
—Regina Elling, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Jan. 2026
Using social media to get the word out, @phxtrinkettrade and @garfieldtrinkettrade have created boxes full of assorted knick-knacks that people can come and trade, from stickers and bookmarks to mini figurines and crystals.
—Dina Kaur, AZCentral.com, 14 Jan. 2026
Best Wayfair New Year Super Sale Decor Deals If your home feels bare after packing away holiday knick-knacks, consider adding a decorative touch to liven things up.
—Jacqueline Tempera, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for knacks
Noun
-
The New York Colored American reported that some offers of short-term work for Black men — moving livestock to or from Kentucky, for example — were ruses that ended with kidnappings.—
Equal Justice Initiative,
USA Today,
6 Nov. 2025
-
Many suspect a spam call and don't pick up the phone, leading foundation staff to sometimes devise ruses.—
Kelly Meyerhofer,
jsonline.com,
8 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
With Cloutier’s transfer to JSerra, two Fort Worth-area quarterbacks have now taken their talents west.—
Charles Baggarly,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Follow curiosity, and let your talents breathe.—
Tarot.com,
Sun Sentinel,
1 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Tiffany has a few tricks up its sleeve that aren’t jewelry or limited-edition chronograph, one of which is this shapely teapot.—
Nicole Hoey,
Robb Report,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Maybe the tricks learned during this trial can help drivers form some better, cheaper habits to continue when gas prices inevitably decrease again.—
Doug Turnbull,
AJC.com,
29 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
For the third game in a row, Towns — a six-time All-Star specifically for his scoring gifts — was invisible on offense in the first half before imposing his will over the second two quarters as the Knicks attempted to punch themselves back into a game.—
Kristian Winfield,
New York Daily News,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Save that extra cash for gifts.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
1 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Over the past decade, United States Attorney’s Offices in New York City, Boston and Philadelphia have charged dozens of individuals in corruption and fraud schemes involving college coaches, players and athletic department personnel.—
Robert L. Boone,
Sportico.com,
31 Mar. 2026
-
The company described cargo theft as a growing issue marked by increasing sophistication in the schemes used by criminals.—
Hanna Wickes,
Kansas City Star,
30 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
This model reflects Japan’s long-standing corporate culture, which prioritizes new hires for their general potential—their aptitudes and aspirations, as opposed to their current skill sets or university majors—and then trains them on the job.—
GRACIA LIU-FARRER,
Foreign Affairs,
18 Nov. 2025
-
More money is apt to make homeschooling worse and far less tailored to the individual student and their interests and aptitudes by encouraging parents to substitute pricey group programs for the requisite effort of individualized instruction.—
Marie Sapirie,
Forbes.com,
25 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
During the Apollo missions, astronauts used urine collection and transfer devices, as well as plastic bags taped to the buttocks to collect feces.—
ByMary Kekatos,
ABC News,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Our bill will ban the federal government from buying and operating these devices made in countries that wish us harm.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Produced by Cuban hitmakers Nando Pro and La Companioni, the song is an uplifting urban-tropical fusion with flairs of reparto music towards the end.—
Natalia Cano,
Billboard,
16 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Knacks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/knacks. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
