HITTING Synonyms: 180 Similar and Opposite Words

hitting

verb

present participle of hit

as in knocking

to deliver a blow to (someone or something) usually in a strong vigorous manner a good carpenter hits a nail just two or three times to drive it in

Synonyms & Similar Words

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as in bumping

to come into usually forceful contact with something when she fell on the ice, she hit hard and badly bruised her elbow

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in achieving

to obtain (as a goal) through effort the rock band hit "the big time" with their third album

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 hitting Cook will be remembered for making the iPhone feel essential to everything from buying a coffee to listening to music, hitting the gym or paying a credit card bill. — Lisa Eadicicco, CNN Money, 31 Aug. 2026 Crow-Armstrong’s 38 blasts are tied with Kyle Schwarber (2019) for second-most by a left-handed-hitting Cub. — Andy Martinez, Chicago Tribune, 31 Aug. 2026 Inflation and health insurance costs are hitting institutions broadly, Kelchen said. — Tatiana Sataua, Fortune, 31 Aug. 2026 On December 18th, an agent accidentally discharged his gun in a hotel room, hitting the headboard of a bed in the room next door. — Emily Witt, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2026 The woman, traveling south in a 2004 Toyota Tacoma, swerved to avoid hitting the driver. — Garfield Hylton, The Orlando Sentinel, 31 Aug. 2026 Hernández had fallen just feet shy of hitting a home run the day before. — Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2026 Robert spent the prior six years with Chicago, hitting 38 home runs and stealing 20 bases in 2023, his best season and lone All-Star appearance. — Will Sammon, New York Times, 30 Aug. 2026 That’s hitting Gulf economies, which rely on the waterways to export hydrocarbons and import everything from cars and machinery to food and agricultural products. — Matthew Martin, semafor.com, 24 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for hitting

Verb

And the defense module can neutralize them via electronics-frying HPM emissions, knocking satellites out without creating a cloud of space debris.

— Mike Wall, Space.com, 25 Aug. 2026
For Lynn Parsons, knocking on a stranger’s door once made the difference between getting home and watching her car get towed away.

— Razak Diallo, Baltimore Sun, 23 Aug. 2026

Definition of knocking

Verb

Andrew Cherng of Panda Restaurant Group and Kitty Lo of Manhattan Hotel Group, both immigrants, exemplify achieving this dream by building extraordinary businesses.

— True Tamplin, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
The school was bustling with a large, high-achieving and diverse student body.

— Austin Horn August 29, Miami Herald, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of achieving

Verb

Carrington was ejected from the game in the first half after smacking Cunningham across the face during Cunningham's layup attempt.

— Jackson Thompson OutKick, FOXNews.com, 9 Aug. 2026
Catcher Daniel Susac followed up Wednesday’s two-home-run game by smacking a two-run shot, and the Giants bullpen didn’t break down while protecting a 4-1 victory.

— Andrew Baggarly, New York Times, 31 July 2026

Definition of smacking

Verb

Meanwhile, Talarico is barnstorming the state, slamming Republicans mostly on kitchen table issues like stubborn inflation and the price of gas that has skyrocketed due to Trump’s war with Iran.

— Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 28 Aug. 2026
There was little time for anyone to flee as flash floods decimated villages, slamming into houses, roads, bridges and power plants.

— Megan De Mar, CBS News, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of slamming

Verb

All the drama from last week’s showdown with the season-21 designers is resolved by season 22 winning the unconventional-materials challenge.

— Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2026
The screenplay placed second in the horror category at the 2025 Slamdance Screenplay Competition, winning Filmmatic’s Horror/Thriller Screenplay Awards, and selected for the 2026 Grey List.

— Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of winning

Verb

At the weigh-ins and face-off for the IBF heavyweight championship fight, Itauma shoved Hrgovic off the stage and the latter retaliated by slapping the former's face.

— Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2026
Already, Skubal’s joining in on pregame handshake lines and slapping the dugout railing in time to Roki Sasaki’s warm-up music.

— Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of slapping

Verb

During court on Eyssallenne's preliminary hearing on Tuesday, prosecutors shared jarring dash camera video of the crash, which shows the boy speeding through an intersection before colliding with a car and getting thrown into the air.

— Dean Fioresi, CBS News, 26 Aug. 2026
Livestream footage shows the blue pickup truck surrounded by ICE vehicles after colliding with immigration agents and smashing into a concrete barrier on the side of I-55 next to Exit 290.

— Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 25 Aug. 2026