1
as in to bump
to come into usually forceful contact with something
my knee knocked against the table leg when I tried to get up quickly
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to hit
to deliver a blow to (someone or something) usually in a strong vigorous manner
threatened to knock him upside the head if he didn't do as he was told
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in to blame
to express one's unfavorable opinion of the worth or quality of
hey, don't knock it until you've tried it
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in blow
a hard strike with a part of the body or an instrument
gave the door a good knock
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in misfortune
bad luck or an example of this
getting his college degree was a six year adventure not without its share of knocks along the way
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in setback
a change in status for the worse usually temporarily
the geneticist's reputation took a knock when several of his peers were unable to confirm his research findings
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of knock
James Peckham, PC Magazine, 17 Mar. 2026
In the event Borges knocks it out of the park and a high-profile team in Europe comes calling for him, Sporting KC may convert 95% of the sale proceeds into GAM; that would held KC continue strengthening its roster.
—Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 17 Mar. 2026
David Eckert, Austin American Statesman, 15 Mar. 2026
The Fijians had the last possession of the match and were five meters from the South African line when a knock-on ended their attack and ensured South Africa won the final and the series.
—ABC News, 15 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for knock
Verb
Claude knocked ChatGPT from the top spot of the Google and Apple app stores for a short time.
—James Peckham, PC Magazine, 17 Mar. 2026
In the event Borges knocks it out of the park and a high-profile team in Europe comes calling for him, Sporting KC may convert 95% of the sale proceeds into GAM; that would held KC continue strengthening its roster.
—Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 17 Mar. 2026
Noun
Texas added two more runs in the bottom half on an error and Carson Tinney's RBI knock.
—David Eckert, Austin American Statesman, 15 Mar. 2026
The Fijians had the last possession of the match and were five meters from the South African line when a knock-on ended their attack and ensured South Africa won the final and the series.
—ABC News, 15 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for knock
Recent Examples of Synonyms for knock
Verb
-
Nobody’s going to bump into them in a hallway and offer career advice.—
Dennis Kozak,
Fortune,
19 Mar. 2026
-
The victory bumped the Oilers to second place behind Anaheim and ahead of Vegas.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
18 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The ball then hit the football goal post crossbar and bounded down to Luis Duenas who headed it from point-blank range toward the net.—
Darren Lauber,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
21 Mar. 2026
-
The organization doesn’t expect Owens to hit and pitch in the same game this year, but intends to build him toward that goal eventually.—
Shawn McFarland,
Dallas Morning News,
21 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
During his sentencing hearing at a Philadelphia courthouse, Seferlis apologized for writing the threatening letters, blaming the actions on his personal outrage over the plight of Palestinians in Gaza, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported.—
Washington Examiner Staff,
The Washington Examiner,
17 Mar. 2026
-
The conservative leader has blamed some of the violence on neighboring Colombia, accusing its government of not doing enough to stop cartels that operate along the border between both nations.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
16 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The final blow came in the 70th minute with Sveindís Jónsdóttir’s run down the left flank, setting up Miahara Niehues, making a late run in the middle, for the finish.—
Damian Calhoun,
Daily News,
16 Mar. 2026
-
Hot tools are big and bulky, and most hotels provide some sort of blow dryer.—
Rylee Johnston,
Travel + Leisure,
15 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
For the more superstitious among us, Friday the 13th is a day that means bad luck and misfortune.—
Annie Harrigan,
Billboard,
17 Mar. 2026
-
That’s the idea that men who date women in the Kardashian family often face personal or professional misfortune.—
Martha Ross,
Mercury News,
16 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
But economic setbacks pale in comparison to tragic loss of life.—
Leonard Greene,
New York Daily News,
14 Mar. 2026
-
Americans fear outliving their savings as much as any other potential retirement setback, including failing health, according to research from the Transamerica Center.—
Daniel de Visé,
USA Today,
14 Mar. 2026
Verb
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And drummer Josh Freese, who returned to Nine Inch Nails last year after Foo Fighters dropped him for NIN’s previous drummer, Ilan Rubin, banged a percussion solo long enough for his bandmates to rush and join him on the main stage.—
Peter Larsen,
Oc Register,
12 Mar. 2026
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With pulsating strobe lights and a head-banging remix to Britney Spears’s Toxic blaring overhead, models stomped out in clothes that could go straight from the runway and into the nearest nightclub.—
Kevin Huynh,
InStyle,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The administration has also slapped tariffs on some specific products, including steel, lumber, and cars.—
Christopher Rugaber,
Fortune,
14 Mar. 2026
-
The ingredients aren’t random cocktail names slapped onto standard drinks — they’re built to match the films.—
Ryan Brennan,
Charlotte Observer,
13 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Knock.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/knock. Accessed 21 Mar. 2026.
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