1
as in bumps
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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in hits
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 blames
to express one's unfavorable opinion of the worth or quality of
hey, don't knock it until you've tried it
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in blows
a hard strike with a part of the body or an instrument
gave the door a good knock
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in misfortunes
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in setbacks
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of knocks
Zach Boetto, CBS News, 2 Apr. 2026
It’s packed with anti-theft features Other than an accident (*knocks on wood*), my biggest fear is walking outside to find my expensive e-bike stolen.
—Erica Zazo, Outside, 27 Mar. 2026
The archbishop knocks on the door with a pastoral staff and humbly requests admission to the cathedral.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 25 Mar. 2026
Dean Puckett, United Kingdom, 2025 A single mother and her child are put through a nightmarish ordeal when a politician knocks on their door.
—William Earl, Variety, 25 Mar. 2026
In the letter, obtained by The Dallas Morning News, Hancock knocks Paxton for how his agency allowed a Houston Muslim school into the Texas Education Freedom Accounts Program.
—Aarón Torres, Dallas Morning News, 25 Mar. 2026
Francisco lands a clean right and knocks him down, which is impressive because Francisco is all of 5-feet, 5-foot-1.
—Lisa Deaderick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Mar. 2026
How to respond if a stranger knocks or calls.
—Marina Johnson, Louisville Courier Journal, 18 Mar. 2026
Kinda knocks your to-do list down a few pegs, no?
—Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 18 Mar. 2026
CBS News, 27 Mar. 2026
Management staff opened the apartment door after police received no response to their knocks.
—Brian Smith, Des Moines Register, 25 Mar. 2026
The Spartans chased Luke Harrison in the fourth with a solo home run, then two more knocks that sent Jim Schlossnagle to the mound to take the ball.
—David Eckert, Austin American Statesman, 7 Mar. 2026
In his teens and early 20s, a variety of knocks and muscle strains — plus a variety of coaches with fluctuating opinions of him — complicated his development.
—Henry Bushnell, New York Times, 2 Feb. 2026
The story draws from Filipino urban folklore, specifically a childhood ritual involving mirrors, candles and three knocks that serves as the narrative’s foundation.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 3 Dec. 2025
Nobody expected a year ago that the India-US economic relationship will take so many knocks—of which the HIRE Bill is another reflection.
—Billal Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2025
Both saber makers offer models suitable for children, which are largely, if not entirely, made of plastic, so they are designed to withstand a few knocks and bumps without causing too much damage.
—Alexander Cox, Space.com, 1 Sep. 2025
Verb
Guzman knocks on the door, then goes behind a pillar.
—Zach Boetto, CBS News, 2 Apr. 2026
It’s packed with anti-theft features Other than an accident (*knocks on wood*), my biggest fear is walking outside to find my expensive e-bike stolen.
—Erica Zazo, Outside, 27 Mar. 2026
The archbishop knocks on the door with a pastoral staff and humbly requests admission to the cathedral.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 25 Mar. 2026
Dean Puckett, United Kingdom, 2025 A single mother and her child are put through a nightmarish ordeal when a politician knocks on their door.
—William Earl, Variety, 25 Mar. 2026
In the letter, obtained by The Dallas Morning News, Hancock knocks Paxton for how his agency allowed a Houston Muslim school into the Texas Education Freedom Accounts Program.
—Aarón Torres, Dallas Morning News, 25 Mar. 2026
Francisco lands a clean right and knocks him down, which is impressive because Francisco is all of 5-feet, 5-foot-1.
—Lisa Deaderick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Mar. 2026
How to respond if a stranger knocks or calls.
—Marina Johnson, Louisville Courier Journal, 18 Mar. 2026
Kinda knocks your to-do list down a few pegs, no?
—Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 18 Mar. 2026
Noun
Many owners told Bridge they were approached by knocks on the door and verbal offers.
—CBS News, 27 Mar. 2026
Management staff opened the apartment door after police received no response to their knocks.
—Brian Smith, Des Moines Register, 25 Mar. 2026
The Spartans chased Luke Harrison in the fourth with a solo home run, then two more knocks that sent Jim Schlossnagle to the mound to take the ball.
—David Eckert, Austin American Statesman, 7 Mar. 2026
In his teens and early 20s, a variety of knocks and muscle strains — plus a variety of coaches with fluctuating opinions of him — complicated his development.
—Henry Bushnell, New York Times, 2 Feb. 2026
The story draws from Filipino urban folklore, specifically a childhood ritual involving mirrors, candles and three knocks that serves as the narrative’s foundation.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 3 Dec. 2025
Nobody expected a year ago that the India-US economic relationship will take so many knocks—of which the HIRE Bill is another reflection.
—Billal Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2025
Both saber makers offer models suitable for children, which are largely, if not entirely, made of plastic, so they are designed to withstand a few knocks and bumps without causing too much damage.
—Alexander Cox, Space.com, 1 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for knocks
Verb
-
The 2027 Ram 1500 SRT TRX will start at $99,995, excluding a mandatory $2,595 destination fee that bumps the price to $102,590.—
Michael Wayland,
CNBC,
1 Jan. 2026
-
A day when the Stanley Cup years finally ride the synaptic road back to long-term memory and the brain finally bumps the past for the present.—
Mark Lazerus,
New York Times,
31 Oct. 2025
Verb
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On a day when balls were not leaving the yard and hits to the warning track were rare, the Cubs still thrived.—
Jeff Vorva,
Chicago Tribune,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Trash truck hits a resident’s vehicle – $47,000 The Board of Estimates approved a $47,000 settlement for Donald Stepp after a Department of Public Works trash truck struck his vehicle on Dundalk Avenue in February 2023.—
Chevall Pryce,
Baltimore Sun,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Jones blames that impasse for kicking the financial stability of TSA officers like a football.—
Marvin Hurst,
CBS News,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Papperger blames the delays on Ukrainian bureaucracy.—
Simon Shuster,
The Atlantic,
27 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Shesterkin’s first thought was about how big the 6-foot-6 Markström was, but the smaller goalie still managed to land the majority of the blows.—
Peter Baugh,
New York Times,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Parks turned into deserts, great skyscrapers leveled by blows from the tails of the monsters, and the entire population threatened in the panic and pestilence that followed the invasion.—
Rick Kogan,
Chicago Tribune,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
But a staggering series of misfortunes – an arsonist destroyed her rental house; the private equity firm that owned the house still demanded two months’ rent and kept her security deposit; she was diagnosed with ovarian and breast cancer – forced her into tenuous housing situations.—
John Blake,
CNN Money,
22 Mar. 2026
-
How does falling victim to one of the most notoriously unlikely of all misfortunes reorient your sense of chance, of fate?—
Jacob Stern,
The Atlantic,
16 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Of those seven losses, setbacks against Dallas and Chicago (while both were still trying to win) and Milwaukee could at least be rationalized.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Despite these very public setbacks, the U-2 became a hidden success story and a major player during the Cold War.—
David Szondy
March 29,
New Atlas,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Flight 8646 slams into the fire truck.—
Michael R. Sisak,
Chicago Tribune,
25 Mar. 2026
-
In the first season, Ronald meets James Marsden and immediately slams one of his films.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
20 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The music also slaps, synthesizing industrial, electro-pop and iPod party music into a work that feels honest and the right kind of raunchy.—
Katie Bain,
Billboard,
27 Mar. 2026
-
Sporting a bright yellow raincoat and rainboots, Garcia pretends to be a journalist reporting on the storm in West Kendall as a palm tree leaf slaps her across the face.—
Xitlalic Montelongo,
Miami Herald,
25 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Knocks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/knocks. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.
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