knack

noun

ˈnak 

1

: a special ready capacity that is hard to analyze or teach

2

a

: a clever trick or stratagem

b

: a clever way of doing something

3

archaic : an ingenious device

broadly : toy, knickknack

Synonyms of knack

• ruse
• trick
• scheme
• device

Choose the Right Synonym for knack

gift, faculty, aptitude, bent, talent, genius, knack mean a special ability for doing something.

gift often implies special favor by God or nature.

the gift of singing beautifully

faculty applies to an innate or less often acquired ability for a particular accomplishment or function.

a faculty for remembering names

aptitude implies a natural liking for some activity and the likelihood of success in it.

a mechanical aptitude

bent is nearly equal to aptitude but it stresses inclination perhaps more than specific ability.

a family with an artistic bent

talent suggests a marked natural ability that needs to be developed.

has enough talent to succeed

genius suggests impressive inborn creative ability.

has no great genius for poetry

knack implies a comparatively minor but special ability making for ease and dexterity in performance.

the knack of getting along

Examples of knack in a Sentence

She has a knack for telling interesting stories.

The jazz musician has an incredible knack for improvisation.

Recent Examples on the Web

The Bears had a knack for big plays in big moments last season — just look at their seven fourth-quarter comebacks and a league-leading number of takeaways. — Nbc Sports, NBC news, 26 Aug. 2026

See also costume designer Sandy Powell’s knack for a good suit, art curator Thelma Golden’s taste for bold colors and prints, and Spike Lee’s love for the Knicks. — Vanity Fair, 25 Aug. 2026

Streamline open shelves and reduce the amount of decor, especially small knick-knacks. — Maria Sabella, The Spruce, 23 Aug. 2026

Rachel Gillig has a knack for raising the emotional and fantastical stakes, so expect devastating twists, unforgettable tension and a sequel that’s impossible to put down. — Elizabeth Wellington Rollins, PEOPLE, 23 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English knak

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2a

Rhymes for knack

• ack
• brack
• clack
• crack
• dak
• flack
• flak
• hack
• jack
• lac
• lack
• lak

Kids Definition

knack

noun

ˈnak 

1

: a clever or skillful way of doing something : trick

2

: a natural ability : talent

has a knack for making friends