1
as in clusters
a number of things considered as a unit
from the summit we could see knots of houses up and down the river valley
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in swellings
a small rounded mass of swollen tissue
felt a small knot on the back of his head
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in links
a uniting or binding force or influence
their business partnership is strengthened by the knot of personal friendship
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in groupings
a usually small number of persons considered as a unit
knots of people were quietly chatting around the meeting hall
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in problems
something that requires thought and skill for resolution
the situation involved so many legal knots that we decided to get a lawyer
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in tangles
to twist together into a usually confused mass
the extension cords were hopelessly knotted together
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of knots
Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 13 Feb. 2026
The cauldrons were created in partnership with Fincantieri and designed by Balich in a tribute to Leonardo da Vinci and his knots patterns.
—Luisa Zargani, Footwear News, 6 Feb. 2026
This mid-cycle pause gives you the chance to separate any knots and ensure that the sheets dry evenly.
—Anyssa Roberts, The Spruce, 5 Feb. 2026
The mission-representative flight maintained a true airspeed of 100 knots, pushing the limits of long-endurance operations in the Group 5 unmanned aerial system category.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 4 Feb. 2026
Often, though, parents twist themselves in knots to try to make family and career work.
—Beth Ann Mayer, Parents, 3 Feb. 2026
Read on for tips to keep from getting tangled in the knots.
—Amy Lindgren, Twin Cities, 31 Jan. 2026
Meanwhile the question of whether events contracts on sports amount to financial derivatives or gambling is dividing the sports gambling industry — and tying federal courts in knots.
—Alex Sherman,contessa Brewer, CNBC, 30 Jan. 2026
Later, when both groups of residents were practicing their knots, the quiet eye group was told to employ sustained gazes while the control group was not.
—Big Think, 29 Jan. 2026
Jon Duffy, Mercury News, 29 Nov. 2025
Stories like these usually lurch from one contrivance and complication to the next, but Chad Powers knots itself into a genuinely thorny conflict by the finale.
—Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 29 Sep. 2025
Noun
All that juice means this GranSport can dart to a max speed of 20 knots, with a cruising speed of 18 knots, while also delivering an up to 600-nautical-mile range.
—Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 13 Feb. 2026
The cauldrons were created in partnership with Fincantieri and designed by Balich in a tribute to Leonardo da Vinci and his knots patterns.
—Luisa Zargani, Footwear News, 6 Feb. 2026
This mid-cycle pause gives you the chance to separate any knots and ensure that the sheets dry evenly.
—Anyssa Roberts, The Spruce, 5 Feb. 2026
The mission-representative flight maintained a true airspeed of 100 knots, pushing the limits of long-endurance operations in the Group 5 unmanned aerial system category.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 4 Feb. 2026
Often, though, parents twist themselves in knots to try to make family and career work.
—Beth Ann Mayer, Parents, 3 Feb. 2026
Read on for tips to keep from getting tangled in the knots.
—Amy Lindgren, Twin Cities, 31 Jan. 2026
Meanwhile the question of whether events contracts on sports amount to financial derivatives or gambling is dividing the sports gambling industry — and tying federal courts in knots.
—Alex Sherman,contessa Brewer, CNBC, 30 Jan. 2026
Later, when both groups of residents were practicing their knots, the quiet eye group was told to employ sustained gazes while the control group was not.
—Big Think, 29 Jan. 2026
Verb
No matter how many knots a lawyer ties themselves in to get there, legality is not legitimacy.
—Jon Duffy, Mercury News, 29 Nov. 2025
Stories like these usually lurch from one contrivance and complication to the next, but Chad Powers knots itself into a genuinely thorny conflict by the finale.
—Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 29 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for knots
Noun
-
Best of all is the installation-style curation, with paintings surrounded by clusters of artifacts from the same period.—
Clodagh Kinsella,
Condé Nast Traveler,
15 Feb. 2026
-
Sweet alyssum has clusters of flowers with a honey fragrance, and pollinators adore it.—
Arricca Elin SanSone,
Southern Living,
14 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Infection is rapid, causing swellings in the lymph nodes (buboes) and leading to septicaemia and pulmonary infection.—
Matthew Binnicker,
Forbes.com,
22 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Take control of your money with CNBC Select CNBC Select is editorially independent and may earn a commission from affiliate partners on links.—
Douglas A. Boneparth, CFP,
CNBC,
14 Feb. 2026
-
The best way to safeguard yourself from malicious links that install malware, potentially accessing your private information, is to have strong antivirus software installed on all your devices.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
13 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
For example, of 11 S&P 500 sectors – groupings of stocks according to industry and function – three are reporting an increase in net profit margin in the final three months of 2025 compared to the fourth quarter 2024.—
Andrea Riquier,
USA Today,
1 Feb. 2026
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With five defensive backs on the field most of the time, Patterson’s scheme is intended to adjust to any offense, allowing for his defense to limit substitutions and match up against most personnel groupings.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
29 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Housing costs have been a major component of the affordability problems facing consumers.—
Zach Halaschak,
The Washington Examiner,
10 Feb. 2026
-
The researchers warned that while the idea of workers taking on more tasks voluntarily could seem ideal, nonstop work has the potential to lead to problems down the line, including blurring the boundary between work and non-work, as well as burnout and cognitive fatigue.—
Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez,
Fortune,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Wire pin or slicker brushes work best for dogs with long hair that tangles easily.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
7 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
For less than $20, the airtight system helps keep batches fresh for an entire week without browning (yes, really), saving you time, money, and hassle.—
Mariana Best,
Better Homes & Gardens,
15 Feb. 2026
-
Pierogi pillow makers trying to accommodate requests Pierozek has been buying the pillows in small batches from an online shop called Luft for the past three years.—
Kristie Keleshian,
CBS News,
14 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Caglianone took his lumps — most noticeably charted by his chase rate outside the strike zone — in short order.—
Jaylon Thompson,
Kansas City Star,
7 Feb. 2026
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One easy trick can turn those misshapen lumps with scraggly edges into gorgeous, bakery-worthy treats.—
Alana Al-Hatlani,
Southern Living,
6 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Knots.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/knots. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
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