knack

noun

ˈnak How to pronounce knack (audio)
Definition of knacknext
1
as in ruse
a clever often underhanded means to achieve an end tried every knack I knew to get him to spill the beans

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in talent
a special and usually inborn ability a jazz musician with an incredible knack for improvisation

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun knack differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of knack are aptitude, bent, faculty, genius, gift, and talent. While all these words mean "a special ability for doing something," knack implies a comparatively minor but special ability making for ease and dexterity in performance.

the knack of getting along

When can aptitude be used instead of knack?

While in some cases nearly identical to knack, aptitude implies a natural liking for some activity and the likelihood of success in it.

a mechanical aptitude

How do bent and aptitude relate to one another, in the sense of knack?

Bent is nearly equal to aptitude but it stresses inclination perhaps more than specific ability.

a family with an artistic bent

Where would faculty be a reasonable alternative to knack?

In some situations, the words faculty and knack are roughly equivalent. However, faculty applies to an innate or less often acquired ability for a particular accomplishment or function.

a faculty for remembering names

In what contexts can genius take the place of knack?

Although the words genius and knack have much in common, genius suggests impressive inborn creative ability.

has no great genius for poetry

When is it sensible to use gift instead of knack?

The synonyms gift and knack are sometimes interchangeable, but gift often implies special favor by God or nature.

the gift of singing beautifully

When could talent be used to replace knack?

The words talent and knack can be used in similar contexts, but talent suggests a marked natural ability that needs to be developed.

has enough talent to succeed

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 knack In a glowing introduction, Ishmael Reed praises McMillan’s sentence craft, giving special props to her knack for rendering intimacy. —Literary Hub july 1, Literary Hub, 1 July 2025 Multicolored mesh totes shine bright under the beam of The Row’s glowing aura, a brand that has a knack for turning unsuspecting staples into objects of mass desire no matter how boldly priced. —Talia Abbas, Vogue, 1 July 2025 But Grandin has a knack for enlivening theory with anecdotes that are both enlightening and appalling. —Carolina A. Miranda, The Atlantic, 30 June 2025 The Bucks have a knack for finding under-the-radar snipers late in free agency—Malik Beasley in 2023 and Trent last year come to mind. —Brian Sampson, Forbes.com, 29 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for knack
Recent Examples of Synonyms for knack
  1. ruse
  2. talent
  3. trick
  4. aptitude
  5. scheme
  6. flair
  7. device
  8. gift
Noun
  • The scammers could also use your account to scam others out of money with the same verification ruse for passengers and drivers.
    — Suzanne Blake, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 July 2025
  • The elaborate ruse was likely an effort to steal cryptocurrency, which Lazarus has become known for.
    — Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 19 June 2025
Definition of ruse
Noun
  • Stalter, meanwhile, has spent the last few years on Hacks playing Hollywood assistant turned talent manager Kayla, a character with a lack of self-awareness that rivals Hannah’s.
    — Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 11 July 2025
  • The scout said the trade should not be viewed as a talent dump but more as a salary move by the Clippers, who also were in need of Collins’ athleticism in the three-way trade that also included the Utah Jazz.
    — Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 11 July 2025
Definition of talent
Noun
  • Did any of those tips and tricks come in handy here?
    — Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 5 July 2025
  • Truth is, finding universal tips and tricks for keeping your cortisol levels stable first thing in the morning and when leaving the house is tough.
    — Ana Morales, Vogue, 5 July 2025
Definition of trick
Noun
  • The Watch 8 series also offers a 12-minute running test to gauge your current aptitude for the activity from 1 (beginner) to 10 (pro).
    — PC Magazine, PC Magazine, 11 July 2025
  • Each drill was designed to test Beringer’s physical makeup and his aptitude for the game.
    — Jon Krawczynski, New York Times, 11 July 2025
Definition of aptitude
Noun
  • Two sources told Reuters he was suspected of being involved in a scheme to embezzle millions of dollars earmarked for border defenses.
    — Clare Sebastian, CNN Money, 11 July 2025
  • In the film, Superman comes under suspicion by the public and the government over his Kryptonian heritage thanks to a scheme by tech billionaire Luthor to push Superman out of the way of his grand plans to expand his criminal enterprise worldwide.
    — Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 11 July 2025
Definition of scheme
Noun
  • The restaurant reinterprets pan-Asian dishes with Afro-Caribbean flavors in a colorful setting with a nightlife flair.
    — Lyndsay C. Green, Freep.com, 3 July 2025
  • The menu incorporates seasonal flavors, a creative spirit and traditional Mexican cuisine with a Mediterranean flair.
    — Sherrie Nachman, Forbes.com, 2 July 2025
Definition of flair
Noun
  • As the company has already done for decades, Apple would leave the messy internet mostly to others and focus instead on the device itself.
    — Ian Bogost, The Atlantic, 14 July 2025
  • The shoes-off policy began in 2006 after an incident in 2001, when Richard Reid attempted to detonate an explosive device built into his shoes on a flight from Paris to Miami.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 14 July 2025
Definition of device
Noun
  • The price is comparable to competitors, plus the products are regularly on sale with free shipping and gifts.
    — Stewart Savin, Architectural Digest, 8 July 2025
  • Peacocks were offered as a gift to the UN by India’s permanent mission in the 1980s and, as a result, the UN gardens are full of them.
    — Isabelle Mayault, The Dial, 8 July 2025
Definition of gift

Browse Nearby Words

klutzy
knack
knackered
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Knack.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/knack. Accessed 19 Jul. 2025.

Copy Citation

Share

More from Merriam-Webster on knack

Nglish: Translation of knack for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

More Words You Always Have to Look Up

Using Bullet Points ( • )

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Words You Always Have to Look Up
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Ten Painless Ways to Improve Your Vocabulary

How 'Namaste' Entered The English Language

Our Best Historical Slang Terms

'Za' and 9 Other Words to Help You Win at SCRABBLE

12 Words Whose History Will Surprise You
See More

Popular

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Ten Painless Ways to Improve Your Vocabulary

How 'Namaste' Entered The English Language
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
a plate of arepas
Name That Dish! Some mouth-watering food for thought
See All