KNOCKS Synonyms: 332 Similar and Opposite Words

knocks 1 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of knock

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

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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

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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

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knocks

2 of 2

noun

plural of knock

as in blows

a hard strike with a part of the body or an instrument gave the door a good knock

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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

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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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

status quos

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 knocks

Verb

Anxiety knocks people off autopilot, sharpens attention and sends them looking for new information. — Monique Mitchell Turner, The Conversation, 23 Oct. 2026 The Newmark report also knocks the draft deal for saddling Miami-Dade with too many risks of cost overruns and other risks that a private company would typically shoulder in a venture like this one. — Douglas Hanks, Miami Herald, 22 Oct. 2026 At one point, the pair crack up while lying in the same bed, and later, the Eras headliner knocks a cup off a sink, making the Fifty Shades of Grey actress break character. — Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 13 Oct. 2026 With two outs in the opening frame, Junior Caminero and Jonny DeLuca ripped consecutive RBI knocks to put Tampa Bay up 2-0. — Alejandro Avila Outkick, FOXNews.com, 13 Oct. 2026 After the tempting offer, Pryce knocks on Clark’s door to see the ambitious former player wearing under-eye masks, agreeing to his proposition. — Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 8 Oct. 2026 The flash lasts only a fraction of a picosecond, and the beam knocks individual atoms out of place. — Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 7 Oct. 2026 Then, the attacker delivers one more punch that knocks the boy to the floor. — Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 7 Oct. 2026 What knocks him for a deadly loop is a powdered, pampered piece of work called Mildred (Elizabeth Teeter). — Sara Holdren, Vulture, 5 Oct. 2026

Noun

Cleveland pounded out 14 hits against six Tampa Bay arms, with Ramirez and DeLauter combining for six knocks before Cade Smith slammed the door on six pitches. — Alejandro Avila Outkick, FOXNews.com, 13 Oct. 2026 The Rays have Yankee-killer Drew Rasmussen, a somewhat under-appreciated pitching staff, strong defense and a bunch of hitters who could get key knocks or put pressure on the Yankees’ defense. — The Athletic Mlb Staff, New York Times, 3 Oct. 2026 Evidence of Dave Roberts’ growth One of the knocks on Dave Roberts has always been his poor postseason managing. — Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 18 Sep. 2026 But over the course of a 44-game regular season, a few knocks are unavoidable. — Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 13 Aug. 2026 Chicago got two more in the third on four hits and had three knocks that yielded a run in the fourth. — Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 9 Aug. 2026 This buffering is especially useful when the unit is wall-mounted and exposed to occasional knocks or vibration. — New Atlas, 3 Aug. 2026 One runner was pierced by a horn in the face, while 12 more people needed medical treatment for an assortment of knocks, according to the University of Navarra Hospital. — ABC News, 11 July 2026 Bouts of illness and small knocks to players such as rookie Gabriela Jaquez have forced the Sky to sign emergency replacement players and lean heavily on development players such as Aicha Coulibaly, who already has used up half of her eligible games for the Sky. — Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 2 June 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for knocks

Verb

Did join Kylian Mbappe and Ferenc Puskas as one of only three players to score a European Cup knockout-phase brace against Barcelona at Camp Nou, which bumps him up the list a bit.

— Tim Spiers, New York Times, 26 May 2026
The department bumps the call to a higher-priority response (Priority 1) due to the potential for violence.

— Teri Figueroa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 May 2026

Definition of bumps

Verb

The district blames the decline on Operation Metro Surge, the federal immigration enforcement operation in the Twin Cities that happened in early 2026.

— Ashley Grams, CBS News, 21 Oct. 2026
However, a Haitian source who is familiar with the issue, blames Green for the delays.

— Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of blames

Noun

Poliński said Zosia would likely have been blamed for misfortunes such as disease and famine that often plagued the region in the 17th century, which people sometimes attributed to supernatural activity by the dead.

— Katie Hunt, CNN Money, 21 Aug. 2026
But the fire this time was started by a son, which led to raging misfortunes that consumed his three brothers one by one, leaving only ashen memories for his surviving sister and aged parents to sift through.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 6 Aug. 2026

Definition of misfortunes

Noun

Specifically, community members highlighted the 60-decibel noise threshold, 25-foot building setbacks and chalking restrictions.

— Tarini Mehta, Sacbee.com, 25 Oct. 2026
Other potential launch providers, United Launch Alliance and Blue Origin, are both working through setbacks with their launch vehicles.

— Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of setbacks

Verb

There’s seat-shaking violence in how the whale breaches the surface and slams its weight back down (the crafty sound design is by James Miller) and body horror in its claustrophobic, spongy inner chambers.

— Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026
There are currently more than 85,000 customers without power across the Northeast, including New York City and Connecticut, as an intensifying early-season nor’easter slams the region with strong wind, soaking rain and coastal flooding.

— Rebekah Riess, CNN Money, 26 Sep. 2026

Definition of slams

Verb

Someone slaps a strip of medical tape across their lips, promises you deeper sleep, fewer snores and a sharper jawline by morning, then cuts to a dreamy sunrise shot.

— Samantha Agate, Charlotte Observer, 24 Oct. 2026
As the child puts his hands up, Bible says Campbell slaps them away, then drags him off the field.

— Shelley Bortz, CBS News, 16 Sep. 2026