1
as in winning
to receive as return for effort
she's knocking down a good salary, but she has to work very hard
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in taking down
to take apart
right after the holidays the stores start to knock down the window displays
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in downing
to strike (someone) so forcefully as to cause a fall
the overexcited dog knocked the toddler down
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in reducing
to make smaller in amount, volume, or extent
they'll have to knock down the price of those televisions if they expect to sell any
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 knocking down
Well, the two-time Eastern Conference rookie of the month is one of only two players in the NBA this season who’s averaging 15 points and five rebounds per game while knocking down at least 42% from 3-point range.
—
Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 30 Jan. 2026
South San Joaquin County Fire Authority However, after knocking down the flames, fire officials say crews found a person dead inside the shop.
—Cecilio Padilla, CBS News, 5 Jan. 2026
Bringing this winner to dinner will leave everyone knocking down your door for more.
—Patricia S York, Southern Living, 9 Nov. 2025
That's not with decoys, that's not with other means that would try to misdirect our interceptors from knocking down incoming missiles with nuclear warheads on them.
—ABC News, 2 Nov. 2025
The contestants then had to compete in a physically taxing challenge that involved pushing a heavy cart along a bumpy path, stacking sand bags, climbing ladders, knocking discs off poles, and then finally knocking down four bamboo targets.
—Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 30 Oct. 2025
And the autumn Paris weather played nice — just a few gusts knocking down some lamps and a few showers prompting umbrellas to save our gear!
—Greg Palkot, FOXNews.com, 24 Oct. 2025
But his abrupt reversal sparked outrage amid images of a bulldozer knocking down walls.
—Kathryn Palmer, USA Today, 23 Oct. 2025
The clip shows one feline running in circles with a bag stuck on its head, bumping into the furniture and nearly knocking down the home decor.
—Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Oct. 2025
Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 30 Jan. 2026
South San Joaquin County Fire Authority However, after knocking down the flames, fire officials say crews found a person dead inside the shop.
—Cecilio Padilla, CBS News, 5 Jan. 2026
Bringing this winner to dinner will leave everyone knocking down your door for more.
—Patricia S York, Southern Living, 9 Nov. 2025
That's not with decoys, that's not with other means that would try to misdirect our interceptors from knocking down incoming missiles with nuclear warheads on them.
—ABC News, 2 Nov. 2025
The contestants then had to compete in a physically taxing challenge that involved pushing a heavy cart along a bumpy path, stacking sand bags, climbing ladders, knocking discs off poles, and then finally knocking down four bamboo targets.
—Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 30 Oct. 2025
And the autumn Paris weather played nice — just a few gusts knocking down some lamps and a few showers prompting umbrellas to save our gear!
—Greg Palkot, FOXNews.com, 24 Oct. 2025
But his abrupt reversal sparked outrage amid images of a bulldozer knocking down walls.
—Kathryn Palmer, USA Today, 23 Oct. 2025
The clip shows one feline running in circles with a bag stuck on its head, bumping into the furniture and nearly knocking down the home decor.
—Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for knocking down
Verb
-
Working in Northwest Arkansas since 1990, Tom has been an award-winning reporter, a columnist and city editor and an editorial page editor.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
11 Feb. 2026
-
Florida’s season took off from there and reached new heights, ending with a 12-game winning streak and the school’s third national championship.—
Edgar Thompson,
The Orlando Sentinel,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
After taking down the serial numbers from three M-16s used in the Pakistani Taliban suicide attack on the cadet college, near Wana, CNN made a Freedom of Information Act request to the US military concerning how the weapons got to Afghanistan.—
Sophia Saifi,
CNN Money,
3 Feb. 2026
-
And his two Super Bowls were against the New England Patriots, taking down Belichick and Tom Brady to spoil their perfect 2007 season and the 2011 campaign.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
And instead of—or in addition to—downing a few glasses of Bordeaux, the airline has an in-flight meditation program from Petit BamBou designed to address stress triggers like turbulence.—
Hannah Seligson,
Vanity Fair,
12 Feb. 2026
-
While the mere thought of downing eight coffees daily might conjure heart palpitations, caffeine has been at the center of Navratil’s career climb.—
Emma Burleigh,
Fortune,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The system responded within milliseconds, fast enough to support real-time reactions such as pulling away from harmful contact or reducing applied force during interaction.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
8 Feb. 2026
-
Republicans argued the bill would accomplish little in the way of reducing rates and would demonize utility executives.—
Christine Condon,
Baltimore Sun,
7 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Liu surprised fans when retiring a month after earning a bronze medal at the ‘22 World Championships.—
Elliott Almond,
Mercury News,
5 Feb. 2026
-
Indiana Senate passes under-the-radar provision scrapping 'low-earning' college degrees.—
Evan Frank,
IndyStar,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
And beyond that, Congress has shown virtually no interest in dismantling America’s tangled web of dealer franchise laws.—
Byron Hurd,
The Drive,
5 Feb. 2026
-
In response to the city clearing out the Cedar Avenue occupation, the activist organizations behind the blockades complained on social media about MPD officers dismantling three different roadblocks.—
Mia Cathell,
The Washington Examiner,
4 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Others on the roster are known for their high-flying dunks, jaw-dropping ball-handling or seemingly limitless range.—
Peter Sblendorio,
New York Daily News,
13 Feb. 2026
-
And figure skater Ilia Malinin continued redefining the sport, performing a jaw-dropping backflip.—
Tiago Ventura,
Time,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The biggest shift in the financial model of newspapers that has occurred in the transition from print to digital is a decreasing reliance on advertising and an increasing reliance on direct payments from subscribers.—
Hanna Rosin,
The Atlantic,
5 Feb. 2026
-
The formulation hits all the targets my tired eyes crave—brightening dark circles, decreasing puffiness, and reducing the look of fine lines.—
Cathy Nelson,
InStyle,
4 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Knocking down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/knocking%20down. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
