1
as in to bump
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to hit
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 to blame
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 blow
a hard strike with a part of the body or an instrument
gave the door a good knock
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in misfortune
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 setback
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of knock
Mark Harris Outkick, FOXNews.com, 27 Apr. 2026
Investigators say Pihakis struck the victim in the back of the head with an open fist, knocking her to the floor.
—Shelley Bortz, CBS News, 27 Apr. 2026
Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Apr. 2026
His knock is a lack of production at Oklahoma — part of that is him, part is the Oklahoma offense — and blocking that was questionable, to say the least.
—Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 22 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for knock
Verb
Facing an awkward bunker shot from 35 yards to a back pin where a miss long is death, Matt proceeded to knock it to 14 inches.
—Mark Harris Outkick, FOXNews.com, 27 Apr. 2026
Investigators say Pihakis struck the victim in the back of the head with an open fist, knocking her to the floor.
—Shelley Bortz, CBS News, 27 Apr. 2026
Noun
On the top terrace lies the biggest pool in Florence at 35 meters; knock-out views take in the city center, Brunelleschi’s cupola included, to the south and that oh-so-familiar timeless Tuscan countryside to the north.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Apr. 2026
His knock is a lack of production at Oklahoma — part of that is him, part is the Oklahoma offense — and blocking that was questionable, to say the least.
—Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 22 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for knock
Recent Examples of Synonyms for knock
Verb
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Due to the size of the crowd, one of the people the boy was with was bumped into an unknown woman, who told them not to bump into her again.—
Todd Feurer,
CBS News,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Some of the recent videos show the runners bumping into security guards and shoving past church staff, then leaving after being cornered and told to get off the property.—
James Queally,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
And Silva hit a home run, her third, after attempting a bunt on the previous pitch.—
Dan Albano,
Oc Register,
25 Apr. 2026
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The Seattle Seahawks have already hit three of their biggest needs in the 2026 NFL Draft, taking Notre Dame running back Jadarian Price on Thursday night in Round 1 and TCU safety Bud Clark and Arkansas cornerback Julian Neal in the second and third rounds on Friday.—
Michael-Shawn Dugar,
New York Times,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi had blamed Washington for the failure of talks on brokering a deal to end the fighting, with a ceasefire between the sides still holding.—
April 27,
CBS News,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Some, like Steyer, argue the state has been held hostage by corporate interests and utility monopolies, while others, like Mahan and former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, argue unions, trial lawyers and state regulations are to blame for high costs.—
Ben Paviour,
Sacbee.com,
26 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Arsenal’s title challenge is back on track, Liverpool have been dealt a potentially season-defining injury blow, and Fantasy Premier League managers now have just four Gameweeks left to make their mark.—
Abdul Rehman,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
-
The loss of Kidal represents a significant blow to Russia’s credibility in Mali, where the military junta has relied on mercenaries to combat Islamic extremism.—
Wilson Mcmakin,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The latter faces more corruption up front, but both protagonists deal with their fair share of misfortune, growing up all too fast as a result.—
David Opie,
IndieWire,
15 Apr. 2026
-
The Philadelphia singer-songwriter seeks out the mystical potential of quotidian misfortunes in a set of psychedelic-of-center bedroom pop songs.—
Lily Goldberg,
Pitchfork,
8 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Miami-Dade commissioners on Thursday handed Kelly Tractor another setback in the company’s fight to win Miami-Dade approval to build a headquarters outside the county’s development zone.—
Douglas Hanks,
Miami Herald,
24 Apr. 2026
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But noise, as well as glare, are typically buffered with vegetative landscaping and setbacks, or the distance between the property line and the nearest structure.—
Anna Clark,
ProPublica,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
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But the loudness and frequency of cacerolazos—protests where people bang pots—across the island attest to the rage.—
Gisela Salim-Peyer,
The Atlantic,
23 Apr. 2026
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Jurors then heard sounds of banging and choking and Athena screaming and crying, the Star-Telegram reports.—
KC Baker,
PEOPLE,
22 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Draftniks slap grades on the quality of the picks based on their perceptions of where the player’s talent meets positional need.—
Tim Graham,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Marcus Smart grabbed the ball and fired a two-handed pass to James, who bobbled it and slapped it to Luke Kennard.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
25 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Knock.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/knock. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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