1
as in bumps
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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in hits
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 blames
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 blows
a hard strike with a part of the body or an instrument
gave the door a good knock
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in misfortunes
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 setbacks
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of knocks
Jeff Kilburg, CNBC, 30 Jan. 2026
Julio Cesar Chavez suffers his first loss in 91 fights when Frankie Randall knocks him down in the 11th round and wins the WBC super lightweight championship on a split decision.
—Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 29 Jan. 2026
And then some thug comes along and knocks him over.
—Adrienne Lafrance, The Atlantic, 22 Jan. 2026
Three weeks later, in early October, Kim knocks on Helen’s door.
—Sadia Shepard, New Yorker, 11 Jan. 2026
One of the biggest knocks on him is his lack of experience.
—Antwan Staley, New York Daily News, 8 Jan. 2026
The first full week of 2026 promises warmth in Austin before a late-week cold front knocks temperatures back.
—Newsroom Meteorologist, Austin American Statesman, 5 Jan. 2026
And usually parents only find out their kids are involved when the FBI knocks on the door, noted Cynthia Kaiser, former deputy assistant director of the FBI’s cyber division.
—Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 1 Jan. 2026
Those door knocks sometimes paid off.
—Lester Holt, NBC news, 19 Dec. 2025
Henry Bushnell, New York Times, 2 Feb. 2026
The story draws from Filipino urban folklore, specifically a childhood ritual involving mirrors, candles and three knocks that serves as the narrative’s foundation.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 3 Dec. 2025
Nobody expected a year ago that the India-US economic relationship will take so many knocks—of which the HIRE Bill is another reflection.
—Billal Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2025
Both saber makers offer models suitable for children, which are largely, if not entirely, made of plastic, so they are designed to withstand a few knocks and bumps without causing too much damage.
—Alexander Cox, Space.com, 1 Sep. 2025
Verb
Opportunity knocks on software stocks, including Microsoft (MSFT), Salesforce (CRM), and ServiceNow (NOW), which all got slammed in Thursday's trading amid pressure on the software sector ETF (IGV) from artificial intelligence (AI) disruption concerns.
—Jeff Kilburg, CNBC, 30 Jan. 2026
Julio Cesar Chavez suffers his first loss in 91 fights when Frankie Randall knocks him down in the 11th round and wins the WBC super lightweight championship on a split decision.
—Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 29 Jan. 2026
And then some thug comes along and knocks him over.
—Adrienne Lafrance, The Atlantic, 22 Jan. 2026
Three weeks later, in early October, Kim knocks on Helen’s door.
—Sadia Shepard, New Yorker, 11 Jan. 2026
One of the biggest knocks on him is his lack of experience.
—Antwan Staley, New York Daily News, 8 Jan. 2026
The first full week of 2026 promises warmth in Austin before a late-week cold front knocks temperatures back.
—Newsroom Meteorologist, Austin American Statesman, 5 Jan. 2026
And usually parents only find out their kids are involved when the FBI knocks on the door, noted Cynthia Kaiser, former deputy assistant director of the FBI’s cyber division.
—Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 1 Jan. 2026
Those door knocks sometimes paid off.
—Lester Holt, NBC news, 19 Dec. 2025
Noun
In his teens and early 20s, a variety of knocks and muscle strains — plus a variety of coaches with fluctuating opinions of him — complicated his development.
—Henry Bushnell, New York Times, 2 Feb. 2026
The story draws from Filipino urban folklore, specifically a childhood ritual involving mirrors, candles and three knocks that serves as the narrative’s foundation.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 3 Dec. 2025
Nobody expected a year ago that the India-US economic relationship will take so many knocks—of which the HIRE Bill is another reflection.
—Billal Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2025
Both saber makers offer models suitable for children, which are largely, if not entirely, made of plastic, so they are designed to withstand a few knocks and bumps without causing too much damage.
—Alexander Cox, Space.com, 1 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for knocks
Verb
-
The 2027 Ram 1500 SRT TRX will start at $99,995, excluding a mandatory $2,595 destination fee that bumps the price to $102,590.—
Michael Wayland,
CNBC,
1 Jan. 2026
-
A day when the Stanley Cup years finally ride the synaptic road back to long-term memory and the brain finally bumps the past for the present.—
Mark Lazerus,
New York Times,
31 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Quince's version is made with 24 percent spandex for extra stretch and features a high-cut leg that hits just right to cinch your waist.—
Claire Gallam,
Travel + Leisure,
11 Feb. 2026
-
Witherspoon was one of the Seahawks’ stars of the game with a sack and two QB hits, one of which led to an interception from Patriots QB Drake Maye.—
Doug Kyed,
Boston Herald,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Wendell is a man who never reached out to do much and blames the world for it.—
Mary Ann Grossmann,
Twin Cities,
8 Feb. 2026
-
The current narrative blames artificial intelligence.—
Business Columnist,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Cheap drinks soften emotional blows.—
Ana Gutierrez,
Austin American Statesman,
11 Feb. 2026
-
But researchers worry that repeated, less dramatic blows, such as heading the ball, can also have long-term effects; there is evidence that players who regularly head the ball are at greater risk of dementia than those, such as goalkeepers, who do not.—
semafor.com,
semafor.com,
6 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Once these people are already profiting off their own peccadillos and escalating misfortunes, why shouldn’t HBO?—
Daniel Fienberg,
HollywoodReporter,
11 Feb. 2026
-
Some of these myths include a home facing south will bring financial and health problems and misfortunes to the occupants—however, many Vastu sources also say a south-facing home can be auspicious if done right.—
Patricia Shannon,
Southern Living,
11 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Preparing in advance is the best way to avoid setbacks.—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
8 Feb. 2026
-
The United States team of Minnesotans Cory Thiesse and Korey Dropkin suffered its first setbacks of the 2026 Winter Olympics on Saturday, defeated 6-4 by Great Britain and 6-5 in an extra end by South Korea in Cortina D’Ampezzo, Italy.—
Duluth News Tribune,
Twin Cities,
8 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Continue reading … POLITICS BAD CALL – Trump admin slams Dems’ ‘call 911 on ICE’ push as reckless, links policy to riots and violent arrests.—
,
FOXNews.com,
30 Jan. 2026
-
Winter storm slams the East While Arizona's system is mostly a light-rain and mountain-snow setup, a sprawling winter storm is creating far bigger problems across the eastern half of the country.—
Hayleigh Evans,
AZCentral.com,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Boston Blue slaps a fresh coat of paint on Blue Bloods, the CBS procedural that ended its 14-season run last year.—
Randall Colburn,
Entertainment Weekly,
20 Dec. 2025
-
Speaking with Cocoa Butter about her most memorable roles, Calloway revealed that the moment Ike slaps Jackie came across so emotional and raw because the stunt went wrong.—
Angela Andaloro,
PEOPLE,
5 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Knocks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/knocks. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
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