Synonyms of knocks

knocks 1 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of knock

1

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• bumps
• slams
• collides
• smashes
• bangs
• crashes
• hits
• rams
• impinges
• swipes
• impacts
• strikes
• thuds
• bashes
• bounces
• glances
• skips
• scrapes
• lands
• pushes
• sweeps
• contacts
• rebounds
• ricochets
• grazes
• touches
• nudges
• brushes
• jostles
• clunks
• skims
• kisses
• shaves
• caroms
• muscles
• presses
• bulldozes

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• misses
• skirts

2

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• hits
• slaps
• smacks
• slams
• punches
• claps
• whacks
• strikes
• bangs
• swipes
• pounds
• clips
• kicks
• cracks
• thumps
• bashes
• bats
• shoves
• pushes
• nails
• pokes
• swats
• clobbers
• thwacks
• zaps
• taps
• smites
• boxes
• hammers
• licks
• wallops
• socks
• bludgeons
• jabs
• bops
• stabs
• bonks
• raps
• flicks
• clouts
• biffs
• bobs
• clocks
• chops
• slugs
• bumps
• tags
• slogs
• belts
• busts
• pastes
• pummels
• whales
• strokes
• beats
• mauls
• jostles
• hangs one on
• mangles
• knees
• scuffs
• batters
• slashes
• drubs
• dumps
• lambastes
• cuffs
• whips
• peppers
• roughs
• stamps
• prods
• pelts
• buffets
• butts
• bunts
• conks
• decks
• lashes
• thrashes
• saps
• laces
• fells
• knocks down
• levels
• bowls (down or over)
• flails
• switches
• floors
• clubs
• bungs
• flogs
• brains
• beans
• pommels
• creams
• cudgels
• canes
• sucker punches
• spears
• sledges
• skulls
• sledgehammers
• rabbit-punches

3

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• blames
• criticizes
• faults
• denounces
• condemns
• slams
• attacks
• kicks
• pans
• tweaks
• scolds
• finds fault (with)
• reprehends
• slashes
• complains
• slags
• censures
• takes to task
• disses
• blasts
• dispraises
• comes down hard (on)
• clobbers
• lashes
• assails
• admonishes
• whines
• grumbles
• mutters
• growls
• moans
• murmurs
• chides
• berates
• grouses
• rebukes
• reprimands
• skewers
• crucifies
• upbraids
• derides
• beefs
• nicks (at)
• gripes
• belittles
• bitches
• disparages
• reproves
• flays
• hammers
• croaks
• reproaches
• quibbles
• excoriates
• bellyaches
• decries
• crabs
• snipes (at)
• pillories
• castigates
• kvetches
• carps
• cavils
• niggles
• lambastes
• drubs
• fusses
• bad-mouths
• keelhauls
• gibbets
• discommends
• puts down

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• praises
• approves
• recommends
• commends
• endorses
• extols
• lauds
• sanctions

knocks

2 of 2

noun

plural of knock

1

as in blows

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

gave the door a good knock

Synonyms & Similar Words

• blows
• thumps
• punches
• slaps
• hits
• thuds
• swipes
• whacks
• smacks
• pokes
• pounds
• strokes
• slams
• licks
• spanks
• bangs
• beats
• claps
• swats
• kicks
• clips
• hooks
• socks
• smashes
• bashes
• biffs
• switches
• thwacks
• chops
• bops
• whams
• raps
• hands
• bats
• plumps
• pelts
• wallops
• haymakers
• lashes
• douses
• cracks
• cuffs
• picks
• knees
• belts
• hacks
• clouts
• fillips
• whops
• slugs
• swings
• buffets
• welts
• stripes
• dabs
• busts
• boxes
• lickings
• stingers
• larrups
• beatings
• counters
• shivers
• counterpunches
• counterblows
• lefts
• whips
• counterstrokes
• body blows
• rabbit punches
• sucker punches
• uppercuts
• batterings
• roundhouses
• rights
• knockdowns
• KOs
• thrashings
• kayos
• drubbings
• whippings
• crunchers
• right-handers
• sidewinders
• bastinadoes
• pastings
• knockouts
• wallopings
• one-twos

2

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• misfortunes
• tragedies
• blows
• hardships
• mishaps
• troubles
• misadventures
• adversities
• disasters
• ills
• accidents
• trials
• mischances
• miseries
• circumstances
• catastrophes
• defeats
• disappointments
• fates
• calamities
• sorrows
• woes
• curses
• distresses
• dooms
• sufferings
• tribulations
• failures
• setbacks
• evils
• casualties
• cataclysms
• afflictions
• fizzles
• destinies
• body blows
• nonsuccesses
• portions
• letdowns
• lots

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• luck
• opportunities
• hits
• fortunes
• strikes
• breaks
• chances
• strokes
• serendipities
• successes
• windfalls
• achievements
• accomplishments
• flukes
• godsends

3

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• setbacks
• reverses
• reversals
• falls
• lapses
• declines
• reversions
• disappointments
• downs
• collapses
• frustrations
• ruins
• breakdowns
• crashes
• regressions
• relapses
• letdowns
• turnarounds
• recessions
• comedowns
• downfalls
• turnabouts
• retrogressions
• descents
• undoings
• meltdowns

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• status quos

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of knocks

Verb

What knocks him for a deadly loop is a powdered, pampered piece of work called Mildred (Elizabeth Teeter). — Sara Holdren, Vulture, 5 Oct. 2026

Few fully understand this technology, and every incident knocks investors’ confidence further. — Yerbol Orynbayev, Fortune, 3 Oct. 2026

This discount knocks true 4K resolution straight down to standard 1080p price levels, and gives remote workers, coders, graphic designers, and students a rare window to grab immaculate text clarity and color depth. — Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 2 Oct. 2026

The home team secures the victory when Phil Mickelson knocks one in the water at the par-3 16th hole, conceding his match to Francesco Molinari right on the tee box. — Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 30 Sep. 2026

After making the deal with CBS, a local ranger knocks on Kaczynski’s cabin door and claims that local copper miners are interested in inspecting the property lines around the land. — Jane Lacroix, PEOPLE, 26 Sep. 2026

The Eagles defender Brandon Graham fends off a Patriots offensive lineman, reaches his left hand out, and knocks the ball loose from Brady’s grip. — Jennifer Wilson, New Yorker, 21 Sep. 2026

Bowie is still the defending champion until someone knocks them off, and the Vols deserve respect for that. — Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 Sep. 2026

Sally knocks Ian out with a blunt object, and the sisters go roving through the overgrown woods separating them from Lockland Manor. — Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 11 Sep. 2026

Noun

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

Josh Bell continued a torrid August with three hits, Alan Roden bounced back from a tough game with three hits of his own, and Royce Lewis and Brooks Lee each finished with two knocks. — Dan Hayes, New York Times, 13 Aug. 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

But a leg injury in preseason and other knocks have kept him out of the lineup. — Michelle Kaufman may 12, Miami Herald, 12 May 2026