KNOTS Synonyms: 231 Similar and Opposite Words

knots 1 of 2

noun

plural of knot

as in clusters

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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as in swellings

a small rounded mass of swollen tissue felt a small knot on the back of his head

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as in links

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

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as in groupings

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

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as in problems

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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knots

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of knot

as in tangles

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 knots

Noun

The Very Large Crude Carrier – the largest oil tanker class, stretching over 1,000 feet – maintained a steady pace of 13 knots across the Persian Gulf, near its top speed. — David Goldman, CNN Money, 22 Aug. 2026 Better yet, the cabinet highlights the wood’s natural knots and varied grain, so each piece is truly unique. — Bailey Berg, Architectural Digest, 19 Aug. 2026 The 54-year-old actress styled her blonde hair in Bantu knots and accessorized with diamond stud earrings. — Juliana Ukiomogbe, InStyle, 18 Aug. 2026 As for grunt, Whisper is powered by twin Caterpillar engines that give her a top speed of 16 knots and a comfortable cruising speed of 13 knots. — Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 17 Aug. 2026 On April 8, 2025, ANKA III also released a SÜPER ŞİMŞEK in flight at about 10,130 feet and 150 knots. — Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 17 Aug. 2026 Some high-speed catamarans and speedboats in Greece reach speeds of between 40 and 50 knots, roughly 46 to 58 miles per hour, according to ferry companies in the region. — Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 16 Aug. 2026 So here's the part where DC's comic book logic tangles itself into knots. — Sergio Pereira, Space.com, 15 Aug. 2026 Children, young people, and adults listen as organizers explain how to tie knots, trust the rope, and move safely on the rock wall. — Adri Salido, Christian Science Monitor, 13 Aug. 2026

Verb

No matter how many knots a lawyer ties themselves in to get there, legality is not legitimacy. — Jon Duffy, Mercury News, 29 Nov. 2025 Stories like these usually lurch from one contrivance and complication to the next, but Chad Powers knots itself into a genuinely thorny conflict by the finale. — Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 29 Sep. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for knots

Noun

Nine of the top ten robot-building metro clusters in OpenMind's index are in East Asia.

— John Koetsier, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2026
What the team could do is look at the architecture of these clusters.

— Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 22 Aug. 2026

Definition of clusters

Noun

There are a litany of reasons to distrust Google’s AI Overviews, which now appear at the top of its search results above links to actual websites.

— Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 20 Aug. 2026
Aparicio is not hard on Adela for this deafness, perhaps because there are so many links between the character and the director’s own history.

— Jay Weissberg, Variety, 13 Aug. 2026

Definition of links

Noun

Other middle powers such as Brazil, India, Iran, and Turkey are creating and joining a plethora of similar groupings, balancing and hedging between the great powers.

— Mark Leonard, Foreign Affairs, 18 Aug. 2026
So on Friday, at UCLA’s second fall practice, the Bruins shifted around personnel and paired various offensive groupings.

— Aaron Heisen, Daily News, 8 Aug. 2026

Definition of groupings

Noun

The app now allows tipsters to report 46 specific kinds of park problems, instead of just submitting general parks complaints.

— Point Loma-Ob Monthly, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Aug. 2026
Promotion problems in the department Kennon also alleges department decisions about assignments and promotions ultimately left her unable to compete for a captain position.

— Ben Wheeler, Kansas City Star, 22 Aug. 2026

Definition of problems

Noun

Dreyer's Grand Ice Cream announced a recall of multiple flavors of frozen fruit bars from select batches with best-before dates ranging from June 2027 to November 2027, according to a news release from the company.

— Julia Gomez, USA Today, 18 Aug. 2026
Dozens of batches of frozen Outshine Fruit Bars sold nationally have been recalled because they may be contaminated with glass, according to an announcement from the manufacturer, Dreyer’s Grand Ice Cream.

— Emily Kay Votruba, EverydayHealth.com, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of batches

Noun

Combine flour, ground almonds, sugar, lemon zest, baking powder, baking soda and salt into a large bowl and whisk to blend evenly so there are no lumps of sugar.

— Amy Drew Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 19 Aug. 2026
Kuyper was diagnosed with Stage 2 Hodgkin’s lymphoma earlier this year after noticing unusual symptoms and lumps on her neck and breast.

— Natasha Dye, PEOPLE, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of lumps

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knotholes

knots

knotted

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“Knots.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/knots. Accessed 26 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of knots

noun

verb

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