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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of knocking off
The Chargers, fresh from knocking off the AFC defending champion Kansas City Chiefs in Brazil, are eager to win one stateside.
—
Jay Paris, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
But despite struggling to move the ball and/or score points for most of the year, Michigan finished strong last fall, knocking off Ohio State in the regular season finale and Alabama in the ReliaQuest Bowl to close the campaign on a high note.
—Tyler Everett, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Sep. 2025
That is a big deal, both in terms of him knocking off the rust of reading a defense in real time and rekindling the chemistry with his offense.
—Adam Grosbard, Oc Register, 5 Sep. 2025
So, knocking off Benet seemed improbable, according to senior outside hitter Bridget Ferriter.
—Jeff Vorva, Chicago Tribune, 2 Sep. 2025
The ’Canes can instantly legitimize themselves by knocking off Notre Dame in its first game since playing for the national championship.
—Stewart Mandel, New York Times, 27 Aug. 2025
In the playoffs, the Rams upset the Vikings and came the closest of any team to knocking off the future Super Bowl champion Eagles.
—Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 7 Aug. 2025
Jay Paris, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
But despite struggling to move the ball and/or score points for most of the year, Michigan finished strong last fall, knocking off Ohio State in the regular season finale and Alabama in the ReliaQuest Bowl to close the campaign on a high note.
—Tyler Everett, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Sep. 2025
That is a big deal, both in terms of him knocking off the rust of reading a defense in real time and rekindling the chemistry with his offense.
—Adam Grosbard, Oc Register, 5 Sep. 2025
So, knocking off Benet seemed improbable, according to senior outside hitter Bridget Ferriter.
—Jeff Vorva, Chicago Tribune, 2 Sep. 2025
The ’Canes can instantly legitimize themselves by knocking off Notre Dame in its first game since playing for the national championship.
—Stewart Mandel, New York Times, 27 Aug. 2025
In the playoffs, the Rams upset the Vikings and came the closest of any team to knocking off the future Super Bowl champion Eagles.
—Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 7 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for knocking off
Verb
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To my surprise, Gary Friedman, the CEO and visionary behind the brand, was in the restaurant, casually moving between tables and greeting guests before graciously stopping at ours.—
Erica Wertheim Zohar,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
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One video was a loop showing the moment of impact in slow-motion, stopping before blood is seen.—
Preston Fore,
Fortune,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Companies that committed to DEI efforts and made public statements are now pulling back from those policies, editing their websites, disbanding employee resource groups, and quietly abandoning inclusive hiring goals.—
C200,
Forbes.com,
9 Sep. 2025
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Importantly, the company is also abandoning its plan to build a competitor to the cellular Starlink service.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
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If the owner never comes forward, companies are required to turn over the proceeds to the state after subtracting their fees.—
Dave Altimari,
ProPublica,
9 Sep. 2025
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Shares are priced at less than the figure arrived at when subtracting the company’s total liabilities from its total assets.—
John Navin,
Forbes.com,
30 Aug. 2025
Verb
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The socialite made headlines in May by wearing her version of the necklace in Paris during the trial of 10 people who were accused of robbing the reality star in October 2016.—
Renan Botelho,
Footwear News,
12 Sep. 2025
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Four months into probation, Brown was arrested for robbing a man at an apartment.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
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In 1935, Qassam and two of his followers ambushed a group of British Mandate policemen, murdering a Jewish sergeant.—
Sean Durns,
The Washington Examiner,
12 Sep. 2025
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In 1981, James Reyos, a gay Apache man, was wrongly convicted of murdering a priest.—
Glenn Garner,
Deadline,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The number of ski visits at domestic ski resorts climbed by nearly 13% in the year ending April 30 to 26 million, according to the China Ski Industry White Paper.—
Russell Flannery,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
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Last season, McCarthy was on the sideline with a season-ending meniscus injury suffered during preseason.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Within 24 to 48 hours of quitting carbs, your glycogen stores—the body's backup energy supply—start to run out.—
Caitlin Pagán,
Verywell Health,
11 Sep. 2025
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Unhappy, actively quitting players do not buy Eververse armor.—
Paul Tassi,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The order not only stripped workers of union protections but also stopped them from automatically deducting union dues from their paychecks.—
Chris Isidore,
CNN Money,
1 Sep. 2025
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Instead of business owners deducting state income tax on their individual return (where it’s capped), the entity pays the tax directly.—
Robert Green,
Forbes.com,
30 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Knocking off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/knocking%20off. Accessed 16 Sep. 2025.
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