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
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 In one shot of Kidman leaning against the railing of a boat, her curls took center stage, and in another photo, the Lioness actress posed in a blue bikini in a hot tub, her hair tied up in a top knot. — Rachel Burchfield, InStyle, 19 Aug. 2026
Verb
Conine belted a solo homer in the second, knotting the score at 1-1. — Miami Herald, 19 Aug. 2026 Yet with the score knotted up Tracy went to his high leverage arms, and Erik Miller, Tyron Guerrero and Aroldis Chapman combined for three scoreless innings of relief to help send the game to extra innings. — Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 19 Aug. 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
  • Zero Rassvets have reached 500 miles, and none of the second group have climbed above 300 miles, whereas much of the first cluster seems to have settled into stable orbits.
    — Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 2 Sep. 2026
  • Rattlesnake warnings popping up across Texas The cluster of warnings comes as other communities around Texas are also urging residents to watch for rattlesnakes.
    — Brandi D. Addison, USA Today, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of cluster
Noun
  • Strong dosages of antimicrobial drugs and aggressive management of brain swelling can help treat someone who has become infected.
    — Angel Saunders, PEOPLE, 2 Sep. 2026
  • Her symptoms included vaginal bleeding, high blood pressure, leg swelling and back pain.
    — Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of swelling
Noun
  • As the affiliate industry grows, particularly for fashion brands and beauty brands which increasingly route a growing share of sales through such links, the answer is getting harder to parse.
    — Tom Matsuda, Vogue, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Down the line, the cofounders will eventually add in affiliate links from programs like ShopMy and other equivalents.
    — Kanika Talwar, Footwear News, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of link
Noun
  • The signifying fruit was intended to get around the 1980 Israeli ban on political art featuring the grouping of the flag’s colors.
    — News Desk, Artforum, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Lemon mostly worked in personnel groupings with Smith and Wicks.
    — Brooks Kubena, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of grouping
Noun
  • By taking stem cells from a host’s own body and encouraging them to differentiate before mixing them with a commercially available, soluble matrix gel, researchers may have cracked the most critical problems in the transplant process.
    — Mike McRae September 02, New Atlas, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Along with the brilliant Sangare, the signing of El Hadji Malick Diouf at left-back addresses a problem area for them.
    — Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of problem
Verb
  • Because trunk cargo nets have large holes, pointed items such as fishing poles, bats, or rackets can get tangled.
    — BestReviews, Mercury News, 27 Aug. 2026
  • General Daily Insight for August 26, 2026 Small adjustments can keep today’s plans from getting tangled.
    — Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of tangle
Noun
  • Founded by Jesse and Ashlyn Gagnon in 2023, Orthodox is an American farmhouse brewery known for its small-batch beers with a distinct Belgian influence.
    — John Magsam, Arkansas Online, 28 Aug. 2026
  • This week’s batch includes new albums from Turnstile, Erykah Badu and the Alchemist, Interpol, and more.
    — Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of batch
Noun
  • Then there’s the fact that many potential investors aren’t quite sure what to make of a company from a mostly empty lump of volcanic rock in the middle of the North Atlantic.
    — Mark Sappenfield, Christian Science Monitor, 28 Aug. 2026
  • The process produces pebble-sized lumps called clinker, which are then ground into cement powder.
    — Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 27 Aug. 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 4 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on knot

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about knot

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