Synonyms of knock

knock 1 of 2

verb

ˈnäk 

1

as in to bump

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

• bump
• bang
• slam
• smash
• collide
• hit
• crash
• ram
• impinge
• swipe
• impact
• strike
• thud
• bash
• bounce
• scrape
• glance
• skip
• contact
• rebound
• push
• sweep
• brush
• touch
• ricochet
• kiss
• land
• nudge
• shave
• clunk
• graze
• skim
• jostle
• muscle
• carom
• bulldoze
• press

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• miss
• skirt

2

as in to hit

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

• hit
• slap
• smack
• punch
• slam
• bang
• strike
• whack
• clap
• swipe
• pound
• crack
• bat
• kick
• clip
• thump
• box
• nail
• bash
• shove
• hammer
• tap
• lick
• push
• swat
• poke
• clock
• zap
• clobber
• bludgeon
• smite
• chop
• jab
• thwack
• slug
• stab
• tag
• bop
• flick
• clout
• sock
• bob
• bonk
• belt
• bump
• rap
• wallop
• bust
• paste
• stroke
• beat
• slog
• whale
• biff
• pummel
• rough
• maul
• hang one on
• pepper
• knee
• scuff
• lambast
• batter
• slash
• drub
• bung
• mangle
• fell
• dump
• butt
• cuff
• stamp
• jostle
• pelt
• whip
• lambaste
• lash
• buffet
• deck
• floor
• cream
• bunt
• knock down
• switch
• cane
• lace
• pommel
• prod
• conk
• spear
• brain
• club
• cudgel
• sap
• level
• thrash
• bowl (down or over)
• flog
• bean
• flail
• sucker punch
• sledge
• skull
• sledgehammer
• rabbit-punch

3

as in to blame

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

• blame
• criticize
• fault
• condemn
• denounce
• attack
• slam
• kick
• find fault (with)
• scold
• pan
• diss
• slag
• slash
• tweak
• complain
• censure
• blast
• lash
• come down hard (on)
• dis
• take to task
• dispraise
• reprehend
• clobber
• assail
• admonish
• grumble
• whine
• mutter
• bitch
• murmur
• moan
• snipe (at)
• beef
• berate
• growl
• nick (at)
• skewer
• chide
• reprimand
• hammer
• grouse
• crucify
• cavil
• disparage
• rebuke
• quibble
• deride
• gripe
• crab
• belittle
• flay
• upbraid
• reproach
• carp
• decry
• croak
• lambast
• excoriate
• reprove
• castigate
• bellyache
• drub
• keelhaul
• kvetch
• niggle
• pillory
• fuss
• bad-mouth
• lambaste
• put down
• discommend
• gibbet

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• praise
• extol
• laud
• approve
• recommend
• commend
• extoll
• endorse
• sanction
• indorse

knock

2 of 2

noun

1

as in blow

a hard strike with a part of the body or an instrument

gave the door a good knock

Synonyms & Similar Words

• blow
• hit
• thump
• slap
• punch
• whack
• thud
• swipe
• stroke
• smack
• pound
• poke
• lick
• bang
• slam
• beat
• spank
• kick
• clap
• hook
• switch
• chop
• smash
• clip
• crack
• swat
• bat
• pick
• lash
• sock
• bash
• box
• belt
• cuff
• hack
• pelt
• slug
• bop
• thwack
• knee
• haymaker
• wham
• bust
• pounding
• biff
• stripe
• buffet
• fillip
• rap
• plump
• wallop
• clout
• dab
• douse
• swing
• welt
• licking
• whap
• stinger
• beating
• whop
• hand
• left
• counter
• larrup
• hammering
• right
• counterblow
• body blow
• whip
• sucker punch
• roundhouse
• shiver
• knockdown
• one-two
• counterstroke
• uppercut
• whipping
• KO
• knockout
• thrashing
• battering
• counterpunch
• pummeling
• rabbit punch
• drubbing
• cruncher
• walloping
• sidewinder
• pummelling
• clobbering
• flogging
• pasting
• cudgelling
• bludgeoning
• bastinado
• cudgeling
• right-hander
• bastinade
• kayo
• lambasting

2

as in misfortune

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

• misfortune
• tragedy
• ill
• blow
• trouble
• hardship
• adversity
• disaster
• mishap
• trial
• misery
• fate
• accident
• defeat
• catastrophe
• misadventure
• mischance
• doom
• calamity
• suffering
• disappointment
• circumstance
• curse
• distress
• sorrow
• failure
• woe
• evil
• setback
• tribulation
• unhappiness
• casualty
• cataclysm
• destiny
• fizzle
• portion
• body blow
• affliction
• nonsuccess
• letdown
• lot

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• opportunity
• luck
• chance
• hit
• strike
• fortune
• break
• stroke
• success
• serendipity
• achievement
• windfall
• fluke
• accomplishment
• godsend

3

as in setback

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

• setback
• reverse
• reversal
• reversion
• lapse
• decline
• disappointment
• fall
• down
• collapse
• downfall
• frustration
• turnaround
• regression
• breakdown
• letdown
• recession
• crash
• comedown
• relapse
• ruin
• turnabout
• descent
• undoing
• retrogression
• meltdown

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• status quo

Examples of knock in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Bird was finishing up her goal of knocking on 50 doors per day. —Hope Karnopp, Journal Sentinel, 25 Oct. 2024

At some point during the assault, the release continues, the suspect grabbed the girl from her bed, knocked her unconscious, then fled. —Natalie Neysa Alund, USA TODAY, 23 Oct. 2024

Noun

Strong’s performance is mesmerizing, the highlight of the film (and that’s no knock on Stan, who manages to embody Trump without resorting to caricature — for the most part). —Bill Goodykoontz, The Arizona Republic, 9 Oct. 2024

The knock against retail right now is that the U.S. consumer is on shaky ground, but housing is a different animal because rising home values tend to lead Home Depot sales. —Jeff Marks, CNBC, 12 Sep. 2024

Phrases Containing knock

• knock (about)
• knock (someone) off his/her pedestal
• knock back
• knock dead
• knock down
• knock for a loop
• knock off
• knock one's socks off
• knock out
• knock over
• knock silly
• knock together
• knock up