1
as in stopping
to bring (as an action or operation) to an immediate end
knock it off!
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in abandoning
to stop doing (something) permanently
decided it was time to knock off telling fantastic fibs about her family background
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in subtracting
to take away (an amount or number) from a total
a proposal to knock 10 cents off the gasoline tax
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in robbing
to remove valuables from (a place) unlawfully
Bonnie and Clyde coped with the Great Depression by knocking off banks
Synonyms & Similar Words
5
as in murdering
to put to death deliberately
various assassins have tried to knock off the dictator over the years
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of knocking off
Freedom was able to avenge a district championship loss to Lake Nona by knocking off the defending state champs in a quarterfinal rematch 2-0 in overtime.
—
Chris Hays, The Orlando Sentinel, 9 Feb. 2026
The college football season ended Monday night with Indiana knocking off Miami in the College Football Playoff national championship game.
—Sportsday Staff, Dallas Morning News, 20 Jan. 2026
The big upset of the week was Santa Margarita knocking off JSerra in a Trinity League game.
—Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 19 Jan. 2026
Therefore Primate and its promising central character turns more into a typical slasher flick, repeatedly knocking off the swimsuit-wearing teens one by one, his specialty being yanking out jaws and other bloody grossouts.
—Pete Hammond, Deadline, 8 Jan. 2026
Lindsey Barber scored a career-high 21 points as the Dartmouth girls basketball team avenged a loss earlier this season by knocking off New Bedford, 49-41, in a nonleague contest.
—Tom Mulherin, Boston Herald, 6 Jan. 2026
There were several games to keep an eye on — most notably the Arizona Wildcats knocking off the defending NCAA champion Florida Gators.
—Cole Sullivan, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2025
But the Panthers probably weren’t knocking off the Bills regardless of the backfield split, especially with three offensive linemen leaving with injuries.
—Joseph Person, New York Times, 28 Oct. 2025
Diehn followed in Loftus’ footsteps, knocking off Trivedi in straight sets and only allowing one point overall.
—Andrew Cornelius, Twin Cities, 22 Oct. 2025
Chris Hays, The Orlando Sentinel, 9 Feb. 2026
The college football season ended Monday night with Indiana knocking off Miami in the College Football Playoff national championship game.
—Sportsday Staff, Dallas Morning News, 20 Jan. 2026
The big upset of the week was Santa Margarita knocking off JSerra in a Trinity League game.
—Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 19 Jan. 2026
Therefore Primate and its promising central character turns more into a typical slasher flick, repeatedly knocking off the swimsuit-wearing teens one by one, his specialty being yanking out jaws and other bloody grossouts.
—Pete Hammond, Deadline, 8 Jan. 2026
Lindsey Barber scored a career-high 21 points as the Dartmouth girls basketball team avenged a loss earlier this season by knocking off New Bedford, 49-41, in a nonleague contest.
—Tom Mulherin, Boston Herald, 6 Jan. 2026
There were several games to keep an eye on — most notably the Arizona Wildcats knocking off the defending NCAA champion Florida Gators.
—Cole Sullivan, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2025
But the Panthers probably weren’t knocking off the Bills regardless of the backfield split, especially with three offensive linemen leaving with injuries.
—Joseph Person, New York Times, 28 Oct. 2025
Diehn followed in Loftus’ footsteps, knocking off Trivedi in straight sets and only allowing one point overall.
—Andrew Cornelius, Twin Cities, 22 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for knocking off
Verb
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In the heavily Latino area of south Oklahoma City, ICE agents have been patrolling in unmarked vehicles and stopping work trucks of roofers, painters and electricians, Brooks Jimenez said.—
Nuria Martinez-Keel,
Oklahoma Voice,
10 Feb. 2026
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Lily did exactly the right thing by stopping and asking first.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Security footage shows the missing man crashing his car and abandoning it near the Best Western Hotel on Enterprise Drive.—
Julia Avant,
CBS News,
11 Feb. 2026
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Republican state lawmakers opposed the measure, saying the Legislature was circumventing its process and abandoning transparency and accountability in order to funnel tax dollars to a political ally.—
Andrew Graham,
Sacbee.com,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Heating Degree Days are calculated by taking the day's high temperature and adding it to the day's low temperature, then dividing by 2 and subtracting that value from 65.—
Irene Wright,
USA Today,
9 Feb. 2026
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Philadelphia was in a bit of a pickle in figuring out how to get under the luxury tax at next week’s trade deadline without subtracting key players.—
John Hollinger,
New York Times,
31 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Two men have been accused of robbing a supermarket in Bridgeport at knifepoint on Thursday before leading police on a pursuit that ended in a crash in Woodbridge.—
Justin Muszynski,
Hartford Courant,
30 Jan. 2026
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San Antonio Crime Stoppers is seeking the public’s help to identify two suspects accused of robbing a JCPenney store at Ingram Park Mall in December.—
Raul Trey Lopez,
San Antonio Express-News,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Though Ronald Heath was charged with murdering Hammett, prosecutors ended up dropping the prosecution when Kenneth changed his mind and decided not to testify against his brother again, saying his life had been threatened.—
Amanda Lee Myers,
USA Today,
10 Feb. 2026
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In 2025 Erin Patterson, a 51-year-old Australian woman, was sentenced to life in prison for murdering three relatives and trying to kill another by intentionally feeding them a beef Wellington that included poisonous fungi in the ingredients.—
Karen Garcia,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Feb. 2026
Verb
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For LeBron James, missing the game meant the Lakers’ All-Star became ineligible for NBA postseason awards, ending his streak of making the All-NBA team at 21 seasons.—
Broderick Turner,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Feb. 2026
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James then missed a 3-point attempt at the other end, ending the back-and-forth bid, and the Thunder closed out the win at the free-throw line.—
Benjamin Royer,
Oc Register,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Schaffrick has quite a story — turning pro at 14 before growing disillusioned with the sport at 21, quitting to become a plumber.—
NBC News,
NBC news,
11 Feb. 2026
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Santos-Griswold contemplated quitting the sport.—
Pien Huang,
NPR,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Rather than deducting expenses, the 70% split remaining with the league would be used to cover costs.—
Jacob Feldman,
Sportico.com,
22 Jan. 2026
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In addition, Dawson evaded paying state taxes and payroll taxes by failing to file the necessary tax returns, while deducting payroll taxes from the teachers’ paychecks and using those deductions for himself, the criminal complaint alleges.—
Jason Green,
Mercury News,
22 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Knocking off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/knocking%20off. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
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