as in punches
a hard strike with a part of the body or an instrument
delivered a hard right hook that struck his opponent in the eye
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
1
as in bends
to cause to turn away from a straight line
the pitcher hooked the ball, and the batter missed
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in connects
to put or bring together so as to form a new and longer whole
hooked up three short chains together to make a longer necklace
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in steals
to take (something) without right and with an intent to keep
the monkey hooked four bananas from the basket and scampered away to enjoy them
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in grabs
to take physical control or possession of (something) suddenly or forcibly
I hooked the biggest fish of the day, and then released it
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in curves
to turn away from a straight line or course
hang the bird feeder on a branch that hooks upward
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of hooks
Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Apr. 2026
Hang hooks on a nearby fence for your towels, add a comfy lounge chair, and even a bench.
—Tessa Cooper, The Spruce, 25 Apr. 2026
Suspend trailing pothos or ferns from hooks that clamp onto an overhang, or use tension rods to create a floating curtain of greenery.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Charlotte Observer, 22 Apr. 2026
But the platinum edition had its hooks in me.
—Justin Fenner, Robb Report, 22 Apr. 2026
Klebe’s hooks and melodies are as bright as ever, but that contrast between music and lyrics is more pronounced and complicated.
—Brendan Hay, SPIN, 21 Apr. 2026
Rage and hyperpop savant Jane Remover doesn’t hide the hooks; the noise is a tool for opening a vein, the better to send a melody shooting straight into your bloodstream.
—Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 21 Apr. 2026
With jackzebra’s seemingly gibberish flows and Bloodz Boi’s slightly more intelligible hooks, however, cutspace has finally found a duo that can hold their own on his beats.
—James Gui, Pitchfork, 17 Apr. 2026
Be sure to check your state regulations to see how many hooks you’re allowed on one rig at a time.
—Derek Horner, Outdoor Life, 16 Apr. 2026
Zac Ntim, Deadline, 29 Apr. 2026
Mark Lanier, a lawyer for the plaintiff, questioned Mosseri on Wednesday about whether Instagram chooses profits over the health and safety of minors and whether Mosseri oversees an app that hooks younger users.
—Samantha Delouya, CNN Money, 11 Feb. 2026
The cat who reaches through the kennel bars and hooks a paw around your finger.
—Cathy M. Rosenthal, San Antonio Express-News, 10 Feb. 2026
Aussie newcomer Yerin Ha is the juggernaut's new leading lady—a strong yet soft pragmatist whose quiet charisma hooks Benedict, the ton, and, soon enough, audiences everywhere.
—InStyle, 20 Jan. 2026
Start with your transformation story that hooks from line one.
—Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 18 Jan. 2026
Unable to deal with Max any longer, Nathan asks Joe to send Max down and hooks the Jet Ski to the crane himself.
—Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 13 Jan. 2026
This compact device hooks onto your keychain or purse, and in the event of an emergency, simply pull the plug to activate a blaring alarm and strobe light duo.
—Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 26 Dec. 2025
Install hooks either on the wall or over the back of the door to keep bags in check.
—Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Dec. 2025
Noun
Everything is precisely where it’s needed, from hooks by the showers to chargers by the bed.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Apr. 2026
Hang hooks on a nearby fence for your towels, add a comfy lounge chair, and even a bench.
—Tessa Cooper, The Spruce, 25 Apr. 2026
Suspend trailing pothos or ferns from hooks that clamp onto an overhang, or use tension rods to create a floating curtain of greenery.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Charlotte Observer, 22 Apr. 2026
But the platinum edition had its hooks in me.
—Justin Fenner, Robb Report, 22 Apr. 2026
Klebe’s hooks and melodies are as bright as ever, but that contrast between music and lyrics is more pronounced and complicated.
—Brendan Hay, SPIN, 21 Apr. 2026
Rage and hyperpop savant Jane Remover doesn’t hide the hooks; the noise is a tool for opening a vein, the better to send a melody shooting straight into your bloodstream.
—Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 21 Apr. 2026
With jackzebra’s seemingly gibberish flows and Bloodz Boi’s slightly more intelligible hooks, however, cutspace has finally found a duo that can hold their own on his beats.
—James Gui, Pitchfork, 17 Apr. 2026
Be sure to check your state regulations to see how many hooks you’re allowed on one rig at a time.
—Derek Horner, Outdoor Life, 16 Apr. 2026
Verb
Set in the late 1980s, the film follows 13-year-old Felice (an exceptional Tiziano Menichelli), a budding tennis star whose overbearing father hooks him up with Raul Getti (Favino), a flameout former pro with a new lithium prescription and a serious ladies-man streak.
—Zac Ntim, Deadline, 29 Apr. 2026
Mark Lanier, a lawyer for the plaintiff, questioned Mosseri on Wednesday about whether Instagram chooses profits over the health and safety of minors and whether Mosseri oversees an app that hooks younger users.
—Samantha Delouya, CNN Money, 11 Feb. 2026
The cat who reaches through the kennel bars and hooks a paw around your finger.
—Cathy M. Rosenthal, San Antonio Express-News, 10 Feb. 2026
Aussie newcomer Yerin Ha is the juggernaut's new leading lady—a strong yet soft pragmatist whose quiet charisma hooks Benedict, the ton, and, soon enough, audiences everywhere.
—InStyle, 20 Jan. 2026
Start with your transformation story that hooks from line one.
—Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 18 Jan. 2026
Unable to deal with Max any longer, Nathan asks Joe to send Max down and hooks the Jet Ski to the crane himself.
—Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 13 Jan. 2026
This compact device hooks onto your keychain or purse, and in the event of an emergency, simply pull the plug to activate a blaring alarm and strobe light duo.
—Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 26 Dec. 2025
Install hooks either on the wall or over the back of the door to keep bags in check.
—Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hooks
Noun
-
Pitch invasions, punches thrown (allegedly) and promotion by a whisker in the 103rd minute.—
Phil Hay,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Dallas and Minnesota throw punches from your weight class.—
Sean Keeler,
Denver Post,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Low-impact trekking and homestays offer rare access to a region where human presence still bends to nature’s terms.—
Rob Crossan,
Condé Nast Traveler,
22 Apr. 2026
-
The historic surge was attributed in part to the comeback activities of BTS following their military hiatus — hard proof that the septet’s cultural gravity bends entire economies.—
Hanna Wickes,
Charlotte Observer,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Every room connects to the outdoor wraparound patio.—
Sandra Barrera,
Oc Register,
25 Apr. 2026
-
The real luxury here is how effortlessly the hotel connects you to the best of Santa Barbara.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Henson, who does a lot with a character that doesn’t monopolize the spotlight, touches little Zonia’s hair or steals a subtle glance at her now and then.—
Sara Holdren,
Vulture,
26 Apr. 2026
-
The Pledge is meaningless if the president of the United States lies to us, divides us, bullies us and steals from us.—
Letters to the Editor,
The Orlando Sentinel,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Ebuehi starts to drive away as the officer reaches out and grabs Ebuehi and the scooter.—
Naveen Dhaliwal,
CBS News,
23 Apr. 2026
-
The zookeeper grabs him and delivers the line of the year.—
Samantha Agate,
Miami Herald,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Designed by renowned architect Peter Zumthor, the sculptural design is a 900-foot-long, horizontal, glass and concrete structure that curves and stretches along Hancock Park and across Wilshire Boulevard.—
Julie Sharp,
CBS News,
15 Apr. 2026
-
In another panel, a man and child walk away from the town along a railroad track that curves up and to the left, and then disappears.—
Judith Shulevitz,
The Atlantic,
9 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The Russian military appears to be losing some ground in Ukraine, contrary to claims by Moscow’s top brass; Ukrainian strikes are delivering damaging blows to vital Russian oil and gas infrastructure; and drone strikes by Kyiv have disrupted life in the Russian capital before.—
Nathan Hodge,
CNN Money,
29 Apr. 2026
-
And Minnesota didn’t absorb or respond to the blows.—
Jace Frederick,
Twin Cities,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
According to Archer Western, HDR’s design engineers failed to properly account for wind loads — including hurricane winds — in an initial, partial design for the signature bridge arches that the contractor used to calculate construction costs and time for its bid.—
Andres Viglucci,
Miami Herald,
8 Apr. 2026
-
The front of the mouse arches down and spreads wide, suggesting the noggin of the snake it's named after.—
Zackery Cuevas,
PC Magazine,
14 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hooks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hooks. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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