knack

noun

ˈnak 

1

: a special ready capacity that is hard to analyze or teach

2

a

: a clever trick or stratagem

b

: a clever way of doing something

3

archaic : an ingenious device

broadly : toy, knickknack

Synonyms

• artifice
• device
• dodge
• fetch
• flimflam
• gambit
• gimmick
• jig
• juggle
• play
• ploy
• ruse
• scheme
• shenanigan
• sleight
• stratagem
• trick
• wile

Choose the Right Synonym for knack

gift, faculty, aptitude, bent, talent, genius, knack mean a special ability for doing something.

gift often implies special favor by God or nature.

the gift of singing beautifully

faculty applies to an innate or less often acquired ability for a particular accomplishment or function.

a faculty for remembering names

aptitude implies a natural liking for some activity and the likelihood of success in it.

a mechanical aptitude

bent is nearly equal to aptitude but it stresses inclination perhaps more than specific ability.

a family with an artistic bent

talent suggests a marked natural ability that needs to be developed.

has enough talent to succeed

genius suggests impressive inborn creative ability.

has no great genius for poetry

knack implies a comparatively minor but special ability making for ease and dexterity in performance.

the knack of getting along

Examples of knack in a Sentence

She has a knack for telling interesting stories.

The jazz musician has an incredible knack for improvisation.

Recent Examples on the Web

That was certainly the case on downfield throws, which Coker had a knack for coming down more often than most. —Joseph Person, The Athletic, 31 Dec. 2024

The third-year man has always had a knack for finishing near the rim, hitting a ridiculously effective 81.5% of his shots within three feet this season, and struggling mostly everywhere else. —Morten Stig Jensen, Forbes, 30 Dec. 2024

Music writers praised Bachman for his knack at breathing new life into older styles. —Brendan Fitzgerald, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 Dec. 2024

From his early days charming audiences as a contestant on The X Factor to fronting the beloved Irish group Shillelagh Law, Leonard has proven himself as a versatile artist with a knack for storytelling and an undeniable stage presence. —Spin Contributor, SPIN, 20 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English knak

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2a

Kids Definition

knack

noun

ˈnak 

1

: a clever or skillful way of doing something : trick

2

: a natural ability : talent

has a knack for making friends