as in to hit
to deliver a blow to (someone or something) usually in a strong vigorous manner
an overhead branch suddenly fell and bonked him on the head
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of bonk
That pickleball game on the driveway was pure pandemonium, and Joan almost got bonked in the face with a ball.
—
Kristen Baldwin, EW.com, 20 Sep. 2024
Miss Manners cannot entirely guarantee, however, that your finger will not bonk your nose instead — particularly after the second or third old-fashioned.
—Judith Martin, Sun Sentinel, 2 Aug. 2024
What is the etiquette for enjoying the last sips of your drink without that giant ice cube sliding down and bonking you on the nose?
—Judith Martin, Sun Sentinel, 2 Aug. 2024
All the other couples will be extremely excited to hear that these two are bonking.
—Alexandra Koster, refinery29.com, 18 Mar. 2024
See all Example Sentences for bonk 
Kristen Baldwin, EW.com, 20 Sep. 2024
Miss Manners cannot entirely guarantee, however, that your finger will not bonk your nose instead — particularly after the second or third old-fashioned.
—Judith Martin, Sun Sentinel, 2 Aug. 2024
What is the etiquette for enjoying the last sips of your drink without that giant ice cube sliding down and bonking you on the nose?
—Judith Martin, Sun Sentinel, 2 Aug. 2024
All the other couples will be extremely excited to hear that these two are bonking.
—Alexandra Koster, refinery29.com, 18 Mar. 2024
See all Example Sentences for bonk
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bonk
Verb
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Solo Ball, the only UConn player to make a 3-pointer until McNeeley hit one with five minutes to go, finished with 13 points and a team-best six assists.—
Joe Arruda,
Hartford Courant,
19 Feb. 2025
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Bellinger has pulled the ball at a 45% clip throughout his career, and he’s hit flyballs 44.3% of the time.—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
19 Feb. 2025
Verb
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The stock is getting smacked around after the bell, down 5%.—
Jason Gewirtz,
CNBC,
5 Feb. 2025
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Musk's Controversial Gesture Musk smacked his chest and forcefully extended his right arm during a speech on January 20 during a rally after President Donald Trump was sworn in for his second term.—
Dan Perry,
Newsweek,
30 Jan. 2025
Verb
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In 2018, after the first Trump administration slapped tariffs on various goods, Fed economists devised simulations on the appropriate path for monetary policy based on different tariff scenarios.—
Bryan Mena,
CNN,
7 Feb. 2025
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Hostility remained between the pair in the years that followed, bubbling up on instances such as in 2017, when 50 Cent threatened to slap Gotti in response to the latter's interview on The Breakfast Club.—
Chris Barilla,
People.com,
6 Feb. 2025
Verb
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The blow knocked Cronin unconscious, according to the lawsuit.—
Ilana Arougheti,
Kansas City Star,
7 Feb. 2025
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Our director, our director of photography, and the whole crew really knocked it out of the park, in terms of staging that night and the aftermath of the hurricane as well.—
Jessica Radloff,
Glamour,
6 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Kindt was arrested on a domestic assault charge after he was accused of banging Hagen’s head on a night stand and pushing her against several pieces of furniture.—
Mike Stunson,
Kansas City Star,
10 Feb. 2025
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Several times during our interview, one of us had to speak up to be heard over the clanging of this or banging of that.—
Eric Berger,
Ars Technica,
27 Jan. 2025
Verb
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When the ball found the bottom of the cup at 18, Aberg clenched his fist, punched the air, hugged his caddie and smiled.—
Kirk Kenney,
Orlando Sentinel,
17 Feb. 2025
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The United States has already punched its ticket to the final.—
Richard Deitsch,
The Athletic,
17 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Does embracing low brow open a door for critics to whack you over the head with your own self-identification?—
Chadd Scott,
Forbes,
10 Jan. 2025
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The rings probably formed from an icy moon of Saturn getting whacked, hard, by an incoming object, perhaps even another moon.—
Phil Plait,
Scientific American,
23 Jan. 2025
Verb
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The 78-year-old also posted side-by-side Super Bowl videos—one of himself with Ivanka Trump clapping alongside cheers inside the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans; the other was of Swift being booed by the same crowd.—
Dan Perry,
Newsweek,
13 Feb. 2025
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The fans started clapping, and Rock began singing again.—
Rachel DeSantis,
People.com,
10 Feb. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near bonk
Cite this Entry
“Bonk.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bonk. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.
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