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
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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
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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
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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
as in to roam
to move about from place to place aimlessly
we knocked about from town to town, looking for work
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as in rollicking
being rough or noisy in a high-spirited way
a knockabout game of football in the mud
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in gypsy
a person who roams about without a fixed route or destination
the book is one writer's journey of self-discovery as a restless knockabout
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of knock
Randy Myers, Mercury News, 16 Apr. 2025
And of course, let your nails properly cure under the UV light—try not to move around too much or knock things over.
—Martine Thompson, Essence, 8 Apr. 2025
Daniel Taylor, New York Times, 13 Apr. 2025
It has been tested for general knocks and vibrations, cycling thousands of shocks over several days in the lab and in the real world, the company said.
—Anthony Demarco, Forbes.com, 1 Apr. 2025
Jeannette Catsoulis, New York Times, 19 Jan. 2017
See All Example Sentences for knock
Verb
The party takes a wrong turn when some uninvited folks come knocking at the door.
—Randy Myers, Mercury News, 16 Apr. 2025
And of course, let your nails properly cure under the UV light—try not to move around too much or knock things over.
—Martine Thompson, Essence, 8 Apr. 2025
Noun
That’s all that matters C Ciaran M. · 5h 31m ago
A special word for Macca, who’s run himself into the ground this season and seemingly takes 90% of the team’s knocks, always getting back up.
—Daniel Taylor, New York Times, 13 Apr. 2025
It has been tested for general knocks and vibrations, cycling thousands of shocks over several days in the lab and in the real world, the company said.
—Anthony Demarco, Forbes.com, 1 Apr. 2025
Adjective
Though thematically vague, thinly plotted and without a reliably sympathetic soul to cling to, the movie has a mutinous energy and an absurd, knockabout charm; even its violence is more quirky than brutal.
—Jeannette Catsoulis, New York Times, 19 Jan. 2017
See All Example Sentences for knock
Recent Examples of Synonyms for knock
Adjective
-
Joy’s jazzy, smoky version of the Marvin Gaye classic, coupled with her velvety vocals, sparked another rollicking ovation led by John who was the first to stand up.—
Gail Mitchell,
Billboard,
4 Feb. 2023
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His setlist, a rollicking walk-down-memory-lane of solo hits, NKOTB favorites, standards, show tunes and cover songs, showcased his range as an entertainer, musical virtuoso and keen collaborator.—
Sonal Dutt,
Peoplemag,
23 Jan. 2023
Adjective
-
While the personalities of Marchand and Tarasenko are different — Marchand more boisterous, Tarasenko more stoic — the impact each provides is similar.—
Jordan McPherson,
Miami Herald,
9 Apr. 2025
-
In some cases, locations are banning unaccompanied minors and large groups of teen boys in an attempt to curb any boisterous stunts.—
Nick Romano,
EW.com,
9 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Panelists had been carefully chosen and the moderators ensured lively debates took place.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
10 Apr. 2025
-
To introduce persimmon in a balanced way, Bassford recommends incorporating the color into decorative touches like wallpaper, upholstery, or bedding for a lively yet harmonious effect.—
Kristina McGuirk,
Better Homes & Gardens,
8 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
The beginnings of the dissolution of dialogue Until 1990, American politics and government was always a raucous and contentious how-do-you-do, but ultimately a cooperative venture to one degree or another.—
Eli Amdur,
Forbes.com,
13 Apr. 2025
-
What compelled you to pivot to horror in 1930s Mississippi, infused with the segregation of the time, and a raucous celebration of the blues?—
Mike Fleming Jr,
Deadline,
8 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
While that's good for theaters, it's proven to be, well, less good for their employees, who've been forced to contend with crowds of rowdy, popcorn-chucking teens.—
Randall Colburn,
EW.com,
11 Apr. 2025
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Two of Basem’s teenage students — the older, rowdy Yacoub (Mahmoud Bakri) and the younger, booksmart Adam (Muhammad Abed El Rahman) — share his class despite their age difference, owing to Yacoub’s stint in Israeli detention.—
Siddhant Adlakha,
Variety,
11 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
White’s rambunctious guitars crackled with radio-transmitter static and whistled in high-frequency pitches.—
Bob Gendron,
Chicago Tribune,
11 Apr. 2025
-
The rambunctious East Hollywood rap group were key members of L.A.’s rap scene in the late 2010s.—
Cerys Davies,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Customers at Starbucks will be introduced to a new interface with a carnival-style wheel.—
Anna Kaufman,
USA TODAY,
30 Mar. 2023
-
The Square has spooky carnival-style games.—
Annie Alleman,
Chicago Tribune,
12 Sep. 2022
Adjective
-
The movie is both exquisite and rumbustious, stylized and energized.—
Richard Brody,
The New Yorker,
5 May 2022
-
From 1657, when tea first became available in London’s coffeehouses, to the early seventeen-hundreds, when women were invited in, recreational tea drinking was the preserve of rumbustious gentlemen.—
David Kortava,
The New Yorker,
17 Dec. 2021
Cite this Entry
“Knock.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/knock. Accessed 25 Apr. 2025.
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