1
as in stopping
to bring (as an action or operation) to an immediate end
knock it off!
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of knocking off
Atascocita rose to the occasion again, however, knocking off the Spartans in another overtime thriller.
—
Jon Poorman, Houston Chronicle, 3 Apr. 2026
Illinois State suffered an early exit from the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament but has since bounced back, knocking off Kent State, Wake Forest and Dayton en route to the semifinal round.
—Garrett Chorpenning, New York Times, 2 Apr. 2026
Texas, meanwhile, rode the momentum after knocking off likely NBA lottery pick AJ Dybantsa and BYU in the first round.
—Anne M. Peterson, Chicago Tribune, 22 Mar. 2026
Two of the biggest of the first day were Atlantic 10 champion Virginia Commonwealth — the 11th seed in the West Region — beating 6th seed and perennial power North Carolina, and Big South Champion High Point — a 12th seed in the West — knocking off 5th seed Wisconsin from the Big Ten.
—Josh Taylor, CBS News, 20 Mar. 2026
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
After a nonconference season that saw dizzying highs like the Central Connecticut State men knocking off Boston College and Rutgers, and Quinnipiac’s upset of Pittsburgh, there’ve been a flew slip-ups of late.
—Kels Dayton, Hartford Courant, 11 Feb. 2026
Jon Poorman, Houston Chronicle, 3 Apr. 2026
Illinois State suffered an early exit from the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament but has since bounced back, knocking off Kent State, Wake Forest and Dayton en route to the semifinal round.
—Garrett Chorpenning, New York Times, 2 Apr. 2026
Texas, meanwhile, rode the momentum after knocking off likely NBA lottery pick AJ Dybantsa and BYU in the first round.
—Anne M. Peterson, Chicago Tribune, 22 Mar. 2026
Two of the biggest of the first day were Atlantic 10 champion Virginia Commonwealth — the 11th seed in the West Region — beating 6th seed and perennial power North Carolina, and Big South Champion High Point — a 12th seed in the West — knocking off 5th seed Wisconsin from the Big Ten.
—Josh Taylor, CBS News, 20 Mar. 2026
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
After a nonconference season that saw dizzying highs like the Central Connecticut State men knocking off Boston College and Rutgers, and Quinnipiac’s upset of Pittsburgh, there’ve been a flew slip-ups of late.
—Kels Dayton, Hartford Courant, 11 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for knocking off
Verb
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That led many to believe that, while treatments and crisis care are vital, the goal of suicide prevention needs to expand beyond stopping people from dying to also giving them reasons to live.—
Aneri Pattani,
CBS News,
28 Apr. 2026
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Bain walked purposefully, never slowing, never stopping — not even to size himself up in his new Bucs hat in the mirror — before striding onstage for a hug with the commissioner.—
Zak Keefer,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Kiffin was excoriated by fans and media for abandoning his team, but neither Chambliss nor his family begrudge the coach for leaving.—
Bomani Jones,
Vanity Fair,
29 Apr. 2026
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Musk is accusing ChatGPT’s parent company, OpenAI, and its leaders — CEO Sam Altman and president Greg Brockman — of misleading him and abandoning the company’s original nonprofit mission.—
Alexandra Banner,
CNN Money,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Briere said the Flyers' rebuild was entering its next phase, shifting from subtracting players to adding them.—
Tom Dougherty,
CBS News,
14 Apr. 2026
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The Bureau of Labor Statistics also revised data, adding an additional 34,000 jobs to January, showing a growth of 160,000, but subtracting 41,000 from February, showing a loss of 133,000.—
Ted Johnson,
Deadline,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Earlier this year, one of the members of the group, a 17-year-old, testified against Eric Halem, a former Los Angeles police officer who was convicted last month of robbing $350,000 worth of cryptocurrency from the teen in 2024.—
Ruben Vives,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Apr. 2026
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He was wanted after allegedly robbing a Family Dollar store on Saturday morning and pistol-whipping one of their female employees, taking her wallet and keys.—
Adam Sabes,
FOXNews.com,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Some progressives have cheered Luigi Mangione for murdering Brian Thompson, a health-care CEO.—
Jonathan Chait,
The Atlantic,
28 Apr. 2026
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The unsealed indictment formally charges Bowen with murdering Metayer Bowen with a firearm and tampering with evidence.—
Shira Moolten,
Sun Sentinel,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The Nats then went to the bullpen, ending his night at eight runs (four earned) on five hits over 4 2/3 innings.—
Abbey Mastracco,
New York Daily News,
29 Apr. 2026
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But it was retrieved and Oaks Christian’s runner was tagged out at the plate trying to score, ending the game.—
Eric Sondheimer,
Los Angeles Times,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Skipping that meeting and quitting OPEC at the same time will be seen as a snub to Saudi’s de facto ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.—
Matthew Martin,
semafor.com,
28 Apr. 2026
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Riley sails on, prow forward, fighting to avoid the Imagination’s unceremonious fate, not quitting, not wishing to be retired, but battling time.—
Greg Cote
April 28,
Miami Herald,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
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That’s because the federal tax code, in section 280E, dictates that companies working with Schedule I or Schedule II substances are prohibited from deducting many standard business expenses.—
Tiney Ricciardi,
Denver Post,
24 Apr. 2026
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Gross margin, the percentage of revenue remaining after deducting the cost of production, was 41% in the quarter on an adjusted basis.—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
24 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Knocking off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/knocking%20off. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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