KNELL Synonyms: 68 Similar and Opposite Words

knell 1 of 2

verb

Definition of knell

as in to ring

to make the clear sound heard when metal vibrates the church bells knelled to mark the death of the nation's beloved leader

Synonyms & Similar Words

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knell

2 of 2

noun

as in peal

Related Words

as in indicator

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Dissimilar Words

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 knell

Noun

The result is a death knell for the only indispensable element in self-help, which is the author’s authority. — Literary Hub, 23 July 2026 Some Black Americans who were part of the Civil Rights Movement saw the decision as a death knell for a crown jewel of the Voting Rights Act. — ABC News, 14 July 2026 Comparisons with first in class are often the death knell for new kids on the block. — Kamal Ahmed, Fortune, 3 July 2026 Shares of the software companies were up after Guggenheim upgraded both to buy, believing that artificial intelligence won't be a death knell for the companies and attractive valuations in the stocks. — Davis Giangiulio, CNBC, 1 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for knell

Recent Examples of Synonyms for knell

Verb

Officers were already at the park attempting to break up the crowd when shots rang out and struck multiple people.

— Thao Nguyen, USA Today, 30 Aug. 2026
There was a little confusion as to whether or not the match was really over, but when the bell rang, fans booed loudly.

— Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of ring

Noun

One of the more surreal responses to that experience is applause, which ripples through the audience of Paranormal Activity a beat after all the major scares, like rain settling in after a peal of thunder.

— Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 26 Aug. 2026
Assuming the role of a human clapper, Holzinger struck its lip again and again, sending a sonorous peal across the Biennale grounds.

— Tessa Solomon, ARTnews.com, 24 June 2026

Definition of peal

Noun

The indicator was almost certainly deep into overbought territory during the May surge.

— Josh Brown,Sean Russo, CNBC, 31 Aug. 2026
Running out of cash on hand is the clearest indicator that a college is at high risk of closure, Kelchen added, while consistent operating losses, enrollment declines, and large withdrawals from endowments can also signal distress.

— Tatiana Sataua, Fortune, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of indicator

Verb

In the final scene of the season 1 finale, the church bell tolls eight times — meaning that the town is now demanding eight sacrifices to honor the centuries-old pact.

— Emma Banks, PEOPLE, 3 Aug. 2026
The video’s moodiness subtly underscores the fact that the lion’s share of these tracks are built on one muffled breakbeat, which tolls like clockwork across the LP.

— Hattie Lindert, Pitchfork, 23 July 2026

Definition of toll

Noun

If, however, Madrid find themselves in end-to-end ding-dongs next season — the kind that Guardiola spent his career, and particularly his final season at City, trying to avoid — then Bernardo may not be the man for the occasion.

— Sam Lee, New York Times, 23 June 2026
Hopefully, now this kid can stop being a moody ass little ding-dong about it.

— Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 8 May 2026

Definition of ding-dong

Noun

Issues involving crew fatigue and performance, along with warning signal flaws, are surfacing as federal authorities continue to probe a fatal freight train crash in Elgin last fall.

— Marni Pyke, Chicago Tribune, 31 Aug. 2026
The finding could help scientists distinguish genuine signs of dark matter from misleading signals.

— Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of signal

Verb

The church bells had been a constant companion during my stay in Valoria la Buena, chiming every hour on the hour since my arrival.

— Anthony Wood, Space.com, 26 Aug. 2026
Department store Macy’s highlights sporty prep, statement sneakers, denim, and activewear as key trends for the 2026 back-to-school period, chiming with analyst predictions.

— Joe Bobowicz, Vogue, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of chime

Noun

Cloudy chords, meditative tintinnabulation, the whoosh of wind and rain, blocks of iridescent brass — all these discrete sonorities trundled by, like a train of boxcars with panoramas painted on their sides.

— Justin Davidson, Vulture, 22 Sep. 2025
Shivaree, chthonian, erumpent, tintinnabulation, exonumia, requiescat, deipnosophist, omphaloskepsis, horripilation, deliquesce, apopemptic.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 26 Oct. 2021

Definition of tintinnabulation

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kneesocks

knell

knelled

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“Knell.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/knell. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of knell

verb

noun

Example Sentences

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