as in to hit
to deliver a blow to (someone or something) usually in a strong vigorous manner
an overhead branch suddenly fell and bonked him on the head
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of bonk
That pickleball game on the driveway was pure pandemonium, and Joan almost got bonked in the face with a ball.
—
Kristen Baldwin, EW.com, 20 Sep. 2024
Miss Manners cannot entirely guarantee, however, that your finger will not bonk your nose instead — particularly after the second or third old-fashioned.
—Judith Martin, Sun Sentinel, 2 Aug. 2024
What is the etiquette for enjoying the last sips of your drink without that giant ice cube sliding down and bonking you on the nose?
—Judith Martin, Sun Sentinel, 2 Aug. 2024
All the other couples will be extremely excited to hear that these two are bonking.
—Alexandra Koster, refinery29.com, 18 Mar. 2024
See All Example Sentences for bonk
Kristen Baldwin, EW.com, 20 Sep. 2024
Miss Manners cannot entirely guarantee, however, that your finger will not bonk your nose instead — particularly after the second or third old-fashioned.
—Judith Martin, Sun Sentinel, 2 Aug. 2024
What is the etiquette for enjoying the last sips of your drink without that giant ice cube sliding down and bonking you on the nose?
—Judith Martin, Sun Sentinel, 2 Aug. 2024
All the other couples will be extremely excited to hear that these two are bonking.
—Alexandra Koster, refinery29.com, 18 Mar. 2024
See All Example Sentences for bonk
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bonk
Verb
-
Joshua Hur hit a home run, Trey Ebel had a two-run double and Ethan Bingaman contributed an RBI triple.—
Eric Sondheimer,
Los Angeles Times,
27 Mar. 2025
-
The left-handed hitting Baldwin is listed by fangraphs.com to hit 7th in the Braves starting lineup.—
Bernie Pleskoff,
Forbes.com,
26 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Jordan Hicks pitched an efficient five-plus innings, Tyler Fitzgerald smacked a two-run homer and scored a run, and the Giants beat the Tigers, 4-3.—
Evan Webeck,
Mercury News,
26 Mar. 2025
-
In actuality, everything — unbeknownst to him — was ridiculously staged in a pitch-perfect reality TV parody, as comedy improv actors like David Hornsby and pre-Saturday Night Live Kristen Wiig would put Gould smack dab in the middle of absurd situation after absurd situation.—
EW Staff,
EW.com,
20 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
The short answer: President Trump and his insistence on slapping tariffs on key trading partners, including Canada, Mexico and China.—
Russ Wiles,
USA Today,
27 Mar. 2025
-
But that all changed in December, when Trump first threatened to slap heavy tariffs on his northern neighbor.—
Paul Du Quenoy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Steel was then penalized for knocking Pickard late in the third.—
Daniel Nugent-Bowman,
New York Times,
27 Mar. 2025
-
After a village Electoral Board ruling knocked Tinley Together off the ballot, a Cook County Circuit Court judge, in early January, reversed that ruling.—
Mike Nolan,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
But Isaiah Jackson’s runner in the lane banged off the back iron and the Red Raiders were on the go.—
Blair Kerkhoff,
Kansas City Star,
23 Mar. 2025
-
But for those banging the drum to get Tad out to pasture, remember: The grass isn’t always greener.—
Sean Keeler,
The Denver Post,
19 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
The last Sweet 16 tickets will be punched on Sunday, with second-round tourney action starting around noon Eastern and concluding shortly before midnight.—
Steven Louis Goldstein,
The Athletic,
23 Mar. 2025
-
How to Watch Wofford Terriers vs Tennessee Volunteers: Date: Thursday, Mar. 20, 2025 Time: 6:50 PM ET Channel: TNT Stream: Sling (watch) Wofford punched their ticket to the NCAA tournament with a 92-85 win over Furman in the Southern Conference Championship game.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
Newsweek,
20 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Right now, Trump and Congress could whack Medicaid and give Newsom a solid rationale for cutting way back on healthcare for undocumented Californians.—
George Skelton,
Los Angeles Times,
24 Mar. 2025
-
Alas, the thick-headed goon that Vito sends to whack Frank in the lobby of his lux Manhattan apartment building (a swollen and unrecognizable Cosmo Jarvis as the aptly named Vincent Gigante) fails to follow through with a double-tap, and Frank survives with a scratch to the head.—
David Ehrlich,
IndieWire,
19 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Eight years ago, tech billionaire Jeff Skoll clapped enthusiastically as Al Gore assuaged the opening-night Sundance crowd just hours before Donald Trump was sworn in as the 45th president.—
Tatiana Siegel,
Variety,
19 Mar. 2025
-
And the plan to stand and clap for nothing — including a mother whose daughter was brutally murdered, a boy who survived cancer, law enforcement, and the capture of an ISIS terrorist mastermind — was a truly shameful and terrible one.—
S.E. Cupp,
New York Daily News,
5 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bonk.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bonk. Accessed 3 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share