1
as in stopping
to bring (as an action or operation) to an immediate end
knock it off!
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
The Ladyjacks secured their trip to Austin by knocking off the top two seeds at the Southland Conference Tournament.
—
Danny Davis, Austin American Statesman, 16 Mar. 2026
Three days after knocking off section top-seed Holy Family, Blake beat fourth-seed Minneapolis North 64-54 in the semifinals.
—Pioneer Press, Twin Cities, 11 Mar. 2026
Although the close game was unfamiliar for Madison, Brownfield was used to it after knocking off Shallowater by scoring five points in the final two seconds of the regional final last week.
—Ishmael Johnson, Dallas Morning News, 11 Mar. 2026
The inaugural Hockey City Classic — which also featured Wisconsin knocking off Minnesota — drew more than 52,000 people.
—Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 17 Feb. 2026
Ted Hotaling‘s squad won three straight NEC games in January, knocking off FDU, Wagner and Chicago State.
—Kels Dayton, Hartford Courant, 11 Feb. 2026
The senior guard finished with a game-high 14 points, as the Panthers closed things on a late 10-0 run en route to knocking off rival Duxbury.
—Brendan Connelly, Boston Herald, 11 Feb. 2026
Because chucking a mini pillow and knocking off a person’s hat is *thisclose* to knocking off a person.
—Assistant Editor, Los Angeles Times, 10 Feb. 2026
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
Danny Davis, Austin American Statesman, 16 Mar. 2026
Three days after knocking off section top-seed Holy Family, Blake beat fourth-seed Minneapolis North 64-54 in the semifinals.
—Pioneer Press, Twin Cities, 11 Mar. 2026
Although the close game was unfamiliar for Madison, Brownfield was used to it after knocking off Shallowater by scoring five points in the final two seconds of the regional final last week.
—Ishmael Johnson, Dallas Morning News, 11 Mar. 2026
The inaugural Hockey City Classic — which also featured Wisconsin knocking off Minnesota — drew more than 52,000 people.
—Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 17 Feb. 2026
Ted Hotaling‘s squad won three straight NEC games in January, knocking off FDU, Wagner and Chicago State.
—Kels Dayton, Hartford Courant, 11 Feb. 2026
The senior guard finished with a game-high 14 points, as the Panthers closed things on a late 10-0 run en route to knocking off rival Duxbury.
—Brendan Connelly, Boston Herald, 11 Feb. 2026
Because chucking a mini pillow and knocking off a person’s hat is *thisclose* to knocking off a person.
—Assistant Editor, Los Angeles Times, 10 Feb. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for knocking off
Verb
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Leave the resort to dine at Sunset Mona Lisa, a neighboring cliffside terrace where Mediterranean-leaning plates play second fiddle to the show-stopping tangerine-pink sunsets.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
18 Mar. 2026
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Arizona's prosecution comes shortly after Kalshi filed preemptive civil actions against Utah, Iowa and the Grand Canyon State in hopes of stopping those states from acting against the platform.—
David K. Li,
NBC news,
17 Mar. 2026
Verb
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More than a dozen other signs reference a former redlight district, the Civil War, and a presidential party abandoning a leaky ship and swimming to shore.—
Madison Dapcevich,
Outside,
11 Mar. 2026
-
Agents exchanged unverified data, and discussed abandoning English in favor of a machine-native language.—
Victoria Bousis,
Rolling Stone,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Willis represents a first move of building, not subtracting.—
Dave Hyde,
Sun Sentinel,
9 Mar. 2026
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This chicken is a great recipe to customize to your preferences, adding and subtracting fresh veggies to suit your taste.—
Kimberly Holland,
Southern Living,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The disease affects nerves in the brain and spinal cord, robbing a person of their ability to walk, breathe and often speak.—
Juana Summers,
NPR,
11 Mar. 2026
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Advocates say that level of disenrollment will sharply diminish the state’s health care system as a whole, by robbing hospitals and clinics of revenue.—
Andrew Graham
March 9,
Sacbee.com,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Mehdi Razavi, 48, of Maple Ridge, British Columbia, and Arezou Soltani, 45, of North Vancouver, British Columbia, were arrested in suspicion of murdering a former university math instructor and critic of Iran's Revolutionary Guard, police in Canada said.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
18 Mar. 2026
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Kouri Richins, a Utah mother accused of murdering her husband and later publishing a children's book about grief, has been found guilty on all charges by a jury in Utah.—
Emily Mae Czachor,
CBS News,
17 Mar. 2026
Verb
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After ending the third quarter with an eight-point advantage, the Hornets broke the game open by outscoring the Heat 40-18 in the fourth quarter.—
Anthony Chiang,
Miami Herald,
18 Mar. 2026
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Other locations will see snow ending tonight.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
17 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Some nicotine products, including patches and gum, have been shown to nearly double the chances of someone quitting smoking.—
Erica Sweeney,
EverydayHealth.com,
11 Mar. 2026
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National Geographic also reported that heavy drinking and marijuana use directly contribute to declining fertility and that quitting these habits, while also exercising and losing weight, can help.—
Angelica Stabile,
FOXNews.com,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Justice Department prosecutors also accused him of diverting money from his law firm to pay gambling debts and falsely deducting gambling debts as business expenses.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
25 Feb. 2026
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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
Cite this Entry
“Knocking off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/knocking%20off. Accessed 18 Mar. 2026.
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