1
as in bumping
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 hitting
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 blaming
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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of knocking
The right words can open doors the heart’s been knocking on for a while.
—
Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 6 Nov. 2025
Once the buzz starts, fringe brands come knocking.
—Chris Cardillo, Rolling Stone, 5 Nov. 2025
In a previous generation of hockey, intentionally knocking the net off its moorings could preserve a win.
—Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 5 Nov. 2025
Even 6 inches of moving water can pose a serious risk of knocking you off your feet.
—Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 4 Nov. 2025
Zack Wheeler is also facing some uncertainty coming off thoracic outlet surgery and approaching his 36th birthday, but prospects Andrew Painter, Justin Crawford and Aidan Miller are knocking on the door.
—Stephen J. Nesbitt, New York Times, 3 Nov. 2025
There were plenty of upsets, from Houston falling to West Virginia to SMU potentially knocking Miami out of the playoffs one week after the Mustangs lost to Wake Forest.
—Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 Nov. 2025
Door knocking is an important part of campaigning, according to Jeff Lyons, an associate professor at Boise State University.
—Idaho Statesman, 2 Nov. 2025
The match did not last long, as Steveson secured the victory by knocking his opponent out in just seconds with effective uppercuts.
—Andrew Ravens, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for knocking
Verb
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Bolstering that pair — or, even better, the second pair, and bumping down rookie Axel Sandin-Pellikka to the third — would go a long way toward solidifying the blue line.—
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The notice also says the positions involved aren’t tied to a union, so bumping rights don’t apply.—
Verb
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The 49ers went three and out on their next two possessions and were unsuccessful on throws outside the numbers after hitting the middle of the field with three completions on the scoring drive.—
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After hitting just 4 of 30 threes against the Pacers, Miami opened 4 for 4 from distance, shot 8 for 16 on threes in the first half and finished 17 for 32.—
Verb
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The next day, in an email, Wynn appears to explain, blaming a dollar figure for teachers’ benefits that was mistakenly counted twice.—
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Discussions about the strike and closure online often turn ugly and devolve into blaming one side or the other.—
Verb
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Bystander video footage that has since gone viral captured a masked federal agent fire multiple shots into Good's vehicle, which then drove up the street before slamming into the back of another car.—
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Convenience store owners are slamming the proposal as restrictive and unnecessary.—
Verb
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And the good vibes of those wins quickly dissolved with Toronto smacking them around in the fourth quarter of a blowout loss.—
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Malika was now smacking the rug in rhythm.—
Verb
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This third point is particularly important when there is an outspoken founder in the wings like Chip Wilson who has been publicly criticizing board decisions.—
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Since a shooting by an ICE agent in Minnesota killed a woman earlier this week, Martina Navratilova has shared dozens of X posts criticizing him and others in ICE.—
Verb
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One woman carried a flag for Palestine, while a man banging a cowbell hung a flag of communist Cuba on his backpack.—
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Gamers have turned to walkthroughs and hints for years, but usually after banging their own heads against difficult challenges, and hence learning something in the process.—
Verb
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Mimicking what happened seven years earlier after the Dallas playoff win in Charlotte, the players ran back outside and took a lap around the stadium, slapping hands with delirious home fans.—
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That means not just the sound of rubber slapping the pavement or the whir of electric motors—the soundtrack of a Formula E race—but something new and artificial or, more generously, bespoke.—
Cite this Entry
“Knocking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/knocking. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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