Knockout
What it means
Exceptionally impressive, attractive, or effective.
Reach for it when giving lively informal praise to a performance, design, or result
The student orchestra delivered a knockout finale.
Words to choose between 7
| playful |
|
|---|---|
| everyday | |
| warm | |
| professional | |
| formal |
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playful
Fits when high energy suits very casual praise
Careful Dynamite sounds dated in serious writing.
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playful
showstopping
Fits when one element commands the audience
Careful Theatrical language is poor for formal reviews.
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everyday
Fits when appearance or impact stops attention
Careful Stunning can exaggerate quietly excellent work.
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warm
Fits when visual beauty is the exact compliment
Careful Gorgeous fails when effectiveness rather than appearance impressed you.
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warm
Fits when scale and display create excitement
Careful Spectacular favors show over subtle craft.
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professional
Fits when a distinctive feature makes a strong impression
Careful Something troubling can also be striking.
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formal
Fits when clear excellence is needed without slang
Careful Outstanding loses knockout's excited punch.
Opposites 3
- ordinary
- unimpressive
- forgettable
Common phrases 3
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knockout performance
The choir gave a knockout performance after patient rehearsal.
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knockout design
A knockout design turned reclaimed wood into the room's focal point.
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knockout result
The restored mural was a knockout result for the young volunteers.
Definitions and examples are written for this site. How words are chosen Recording: Vealhurl, Southern England accent, from Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 Updated