Knockout — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun adjective /ˈnäk-ˌau̇t/ knock·out

Meaning & Definition of Knockout

Knockout (noun)

  1. the act of knocking out, the condition of being knocked out
  2. the termination of a boxing match when one boxer has been knocked down and is unable to rise and resume boxing within a specified time
  3. technical knockout

Knockout (adjective)

  1. causing a knockout
  2. sensationally striking, appealing, or attractive
  3. having all or part of a gene eliminated or inactivated by genetic engineering

Knockout (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. very pleasing to look at

    "a knockout sports car that's the talk of the neighborhood"

    similar: aesthetic, attractive, beauteous, beautiful, bonny (chiefly British), comely, cute, drop-dead, fair, fetching, good, good-looking, goodly, gorgeous, handsome, likely, lovely, lovesome, pretty, ravishing, seemly, sightly, stunning, taking, well-favored
    related: alluring, appealing, charming, cunning, delightful, engaging, fascinating, glamorous, prepossessing, elegant, exquisite, glorious, Junoesque, magnificent, resplendent, splendid, statuesque, sublime, superb, flawless, perfect, radiant, dainty, delicate, personable, pleasant, presentable, chocolate-box, prettyish, desirable, dishy, dollish, foxy, hot, luscious, nubile, pulchritudinous, seductive, sexy, toothsome, hunky, studly (slang), arresting, eye-catching, flamboyant, flashy, glossy, showstopping, showy, slick, snazzy, splashy, striking, zingy, photogenic, telegenic
    opposite: grotesque, hideous, homely, ill-favored, plain, ugly, unaesthetic, unattractive, unbeautiful, uncomely, uncute, unhandsome, unlovely, unpleasing, unpretty, unsightly
    near: abhorrent, abominable, bad, disagreeable, disgusting, dreadful, foul, frightful, ghastly, horrible, loathsome, nasty, nauseating, objectionable, offensive, repellent, repugnant, repulsive, revolting, shocking, sickening, terrible, vile, unappealing, unappetizing, unimposing, unpleasant, unprepossessing, frumpish, frumpy, unbecoming, unshapely

Knockout (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a temporary state of unconsciousness

    "The trainer splashed cold water on the boxer to bring him out of his knockout."

    similar: blackout, faint, insensibility, swim, swoon, syncope
    related: daze, stupor, trance, drowsiness, narcosis, sleep, somnolence

  2. an attractive woman

    "The cosmetics company wants a model who's a real knockout."

    similar: babe (slang), beauty, beauty queen, cookie, cutie, dolly bird (British), enchantress, eyeful, fox, goddess, honey, queen, stunner
    related: belle, charmer, peach, bathing beauty, cover girl, pinup girl, houri, cutie-pie, dish, doll, dreamboat (slang), hottie, looker, pretty, coquette, femme fatale, siren, temptress, vamp
    near: bag, frump, crone, hag, witch

  3. something very good of its kind

    "The band's new album is a knockout."

    similar: beaut, beauty, bee's knees, cat's meow, corker, crackerjack, daisy, dandy, dilly, doozy, dream, honey, hot stuff, humdinger, hummer, jim-dandy, lollapalooza, lulu (slang), nifty, peach, pip, pippin, ripper, ripsnorter, snorter, sockdolager, standout, sweetheart, something else
    related: marvel, phenomenon, prodigy, sensation, wonder, catch, crown jewel, diamond, gem, imperial, jewel, pearl, plum, treasure
    near: bust, disappointment, dud, failure, flop, lemon, letdown, loser, stinker, turkey

  4. a physically attractive person

    "Only a few of the show's cast members are real knockouts."

    similar: babe (slang), cutie, dish, doll, dreamboat (slang), fox, glamour-puss, hottie, looker, showstopper, ten
    related: beauty, eyeful, goddess, lovely, stunner, beefcake, hunk, stud, superstud
    opposite: dog

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Knockout

The most common words with a similar meaning to Knockout:

Slang: babe, lulu, dreamboat
Chiefly British: bonny
British: dolly bird
aesthetic, attractive, beauteous, beautiful, comely, cute, drop-dead, fair, fetching, good, good-looking, goodly, gorgeous, handsome, likely, lovely, lovesome, pretty, ravishing, seemly, sightly, stunning, taking, well-favored, blackout, faint, insensibility, swim, swoon, syncope, beauty, beauty queen, cookie, cutie, enchantress, eyeful, fox, goddess, honey, queen

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Knockout

Words with the opposite meaning of Knockout:

grotesque, hideous, homely, ill-favored, plain, ugly, unaesthetic, unattractive, unbeautiful, uncomely, uncute, unhandsome, unlovely, unpleasing, unpretty, unsightly, dog

Related Words for Knockout

alluring, appealing, charming, cunning, delightful, engaging, fascinating, glamorous, prepossessing, elegant, exquisite, glorious, Junoesque, magnificent, resplendent, splendid, statuesque, sublime, superb, flawless, perfect, radiant, dainty, delicate, personable, pleasant, presentable, chocolate-box, prettyish, desirable

Near Antonyms of Knockout

abhorrent, abominable, bad, disagreeable, disgusting, dreadful, foul, frightful, ghastly, horrible, loathsome, nasty, nauseating, objectionable, offensive, repellent, repugnant, repulsive, revolting, shocking, sickening, terrible, vile, unappealing, unappetizing, unimposing, unpleasant, unprepossessing, frumpish, frumpy

Origin & Etymology of Knockout

First known use: 1887

Words & Phrases Containing Knockout

knockout drops, technical knockout

Frequently Asked Questions about Knockout

What does "Knockout" mean?

"Knockout" means the act of knocking out, the condition of being knocked out. As an a noun and an adjective, it is defined as: the act of knocking out, the condition of being knocked out. It has 5 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Knockout"?

Other words for "Knockout" include aesthetic, attractive, beauteous, beautiful, bonny, comely, cute and drop-dead. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Knockout" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Knockout"?

There are 172 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Knockout". Common alternatives include aesthetic, attractive, beauteous, beautiful, bonny, comely, cute, drop-dead, fair and fetching.

What is a slang word for "Knockout"?

Slang words for "Knockout" include babe, lulu and dreamboat.

What is the opposite of "Knockout"?

Antonyms of "Knockout" include grotesque, hideous, homely, ill-favored, plain, ugly, unaesthetic and unattractive. Near antonyms include abhorrent, abominable, bad and disagreeable.

How do you use "Knockout" in a sentence?

Examples of "Knockout" in a sentence: "a knockout sports car that's the talk of the neighborhood"; "The trainer splashed cold water on the boxer to bring him out of his knockout."; "The cosmetics company wants a model who's a real knockout.".

Is "Knockout" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Knockout" can be used as a noun and an adjective, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Knockout"?

"Knockout" is pronounced /ˈnäk-ˌau̇t/ and divided into syllables as knock·out.