knot 1 of 2

noun

ˈnät How to pronounce knot (audio)
Definition of knotnext
1
as in cluster
a number of things considered as a unit from the summit we could see knots of houses up and down the river valley

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2
as in swelling
a small rounded mass of swollen tissue felt a small knot on the back of his head

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3
as in link
a uniting or binding force or influence their business partnership is strengthened by the knot of personal friendship

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4
as in grouping
a usually small number of persons considered as a unit knots of people were quietly chatting around the meeting hall

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5
as in problem
something that requires thought and skill for resolution the situation involved so many legal knots that we decided to get a lawyer

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knot

2 of 2

verb

as in to tangle
to twist together into a usually confused mass the extension cords were hopelessly knotted together

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of knot
Noun
Maggie Miller at the University of Texas at Austin explores what happens when knots encounter an extra dimension. — Quanta Magazine, 1 Oct. 2026 Plus, it can be worn over T-shirts, tank tops, and blouses, like the tie-knot one Stewart wore. — Nicol Natale, PEOPLE, 30 Sep. 2026
Verb
The score was knotted at 5, 12, 19 at halftime, and 26 with a quarter to go at overcast Sandy Park. — ABC News, 19 Sep. 2026 In accessories, Tcherassi’s knotted Sofia bag now comes in raffia, an ideal catch-all for long summer days spent on the water, or in the stands by the racetrack. — Thomas Waller, Footwear News, 14 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for knot
Recent Examples of Synonyms for knot
  1. cluster
  2. swelling
  3. link
  4. grouping
  5. problem
  6. tangle
  7. batch
  8. lump
Noun
  • Just around a curved hallway are three colorful displays of books wrapped in African textiles by the British-Nigerian artist Yinka Shonibare, each presiding over a cluster of seating.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
  • The structure’s 27 gleaming marble petals rise in clusters of three to form nine sides, creating a perfectly symmetrical bloom that appears to float above a series of nine reflecting pools.
    — Kieron Marchese, Architectural Digest, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of cluster
Noun
  • This swelling warps the battery’s internal structure and accelerates degradation, making large-format cells unsafe and short-lived.
    — Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Experts recommend seeing a doctor promptly for any lump, swelling, pain or change in a testicle.
    — Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of swelling
Noun
  • The notice must include the date and time immigration enforcement was confirmed, the location, and a link to resources.
    — Tarini Mehta, Sacbee.com, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Investigators are still combing through the suspects' cellphones, dashboard cameras and other devices for clues about potential links to Iran.
    — Steve Hendrix, Arkansas Online, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of link
Noun
  • For this humble fishing village in Yemen, a tumbledown grouping of barely-there huts nestled between the water and an imposing mountain range, stands sentinel over one of the world’s most vital waterways.
    — Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 27 Sep. 2026
  • In public health, the head of Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention stressed the need for the continent to manufacture its own vaccines, and to do so in regional groupings.
    — Alexis Akwagyiram, semafor.com, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of grouping
Noun
  • Although the problem warrants a systemic fix, the best short-term solution is for hospitals to create more nuanced documentation tools, and for clinicians to exercise judgment when using them.
    — Leah Pierson, STAT, 6 Oct. 2026
  • Pennsylvania and New York are not the only states with a growing problem.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of problem
Verb
  • The fisherman and the shark apparently tangled when the man tried to release the fish.
    — Jasmine Mendez Follow, Los Angeles Times, 4 Oct. 2026
  • Late in the fourth quarter, Wilson and Cunningham became tangled during a physical play.
    — Jackson Thompson OutKick, FOXNews.com, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of tangle
Noun
  • However, delays in actual delivery have meant that only the first batch has been delivered this year.
    — Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 3 Oct. 2026
  • The White House originally said checks would begin in October, but the administration official told CNBC the first batch went out this Wednesday.
    — Sydney Lake, Fortune, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of batch
Noun
  • Experts recommend seeing a doctor promptly for any lump, swelling, pain or change in a testicle.
    — Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 29 Sep. 2026
  • Martinez told legislators at a hearing this year how his wife had found a lump in her breast and asked for an appointment with her longtime caregiver at Kaiser to examine it.
    — Melody Petersen, Los Angeles Times, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of lump

Phrases Containing knot

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knolls
knot
knothole
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Cite this Entry

“Knot.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/knot. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on knot

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about knot

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