kneecapped

kneecap
1 of 2
noun
knee·;cap ;n;-;kap
pluralkneecaps
Synonyms of kneecap
: a thick flat triangular movable bone that forms the anterior point of the knee and protects the front of the joint : PATELLA
… [Richard] Steadman did arthroscopic surgery on both knees, taking out cartilage, and adjusting synovial plica, the bands of thickened tissue that line the joint behind the kneecaps …
—William Oscar Johnson
Many people who play basketball, volleyball, or soccer are all too familiar with patellar tendinitis, an inflammation of the large tendon connecting the kneecap to the upper tibia.
—Andrew Weil
The stifle joint of a horse corresponds to the human knee. It has a patella, or kneecap, at the front of the joint.
—Robert M. Miller
kneecap

2 of 2
verb
kneecapped; kneecapping; kneecaps
transitive verb

: to shoot or otherwise maim or disable the knee of (someone)
He was shot in both knees, deliberately maimed—"kneecapped," in local parlance.
—Francis X. Clines
… punishing petty crooks and unruly juveniles by kneecapping them, sometimes with bullets, sometimes with a … power drill. The degree of crippling one receives is supposed to be a reflection of the gravity of one's crime.
—Bill Barich
—often used figuratively
… hearing from people who grasp their brows in dire concern over whether the President is now too damaged to carry on—this from people who have been doing their … best to kneecap the man for years.
—Molly Ivins
This 66-yard scoring drive Smith engineered late in the first half … basically kneecapped the home team.
—Austin Murphy
The decision to liquidate $25 million worth of the band's Live Nation stock last year nearly kneecapped the company …
—Steve Kandell


Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Williams underwent medial patellofemoral ligament reconstruction, an operation needed to attach the inside part of the kneecap to the femur.
—Mark Inabinett | Minabinett@al.com, al, 19 Aug. 2023
Old-school draft: The Lions were true to the persona of their coach Dan Campbell, who famously said his team will bite the kneecaps and kick the teeth of opponents.
—Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Apr. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'kneecap.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.



Word History
First Known Use
Noun

1833, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1974, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of kneecap was in 1833
See more words from the same year

Articles Related to kneecap
elephant or mastodon tusks protruding from a wall
The Words of the Week - Nov. 4

Dictionary lookups from social media, publishing, and politics



Dictionary Entries Near kneecap
knee buckle

kneecap

kneecapping


Cite this Entry
Style

MLA
“Kneecap.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/kneecap. Accessed 14 Sep. 2023.

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Kids Definition
kneecap

noun
knee·;cap ;n;-;kap
: a thick flat movable bone forming the front part of the knee
 called also patella



Medical Definition
kneecap

noun
knee·;cap ;n;-;kap
: PATELLA

More from Merriam-Webster on kneecap
Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for kneecap

Nglish: Translation of kneecap for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: 26 Aug 2023 - Updated example sentences
1 of 2
noun
knee·;cap ;n;-;kap
pluralkneecaps
Synonyms of kneecap
: a thick flat triangular movable bone that forms the anterior point of the knee and protects the front of the joint : PATELLA
… [Richard] Steadman did arthroscopic surgery on both knees, taking out cartilage, and adjusting synovial plica, the bands of thickened tissue that line the joint behind the kneecaps …
—William Oscar Johnson
Many people who play basketball, volleyball, or soccer are all too familiar with patellar tendinitis, an inflammation of the large tendon connecting the kneecap to the upper tibia.
—Andrew Weil
The stifle joint of a horse corresponds to the human knee. It has a patella, or kneecap, at the front of the joint.
—Robert M. Miller
kneecap

2 of 2
verb
kneecapped; kneecapping; kneecaps
transitive verb

: to shoot or otherwise maim or disable the knee of (someone)
He was shot in both knees, deliberately maimed—"kneecapped," in local parlance.
—Francis X. Clines
… punishing petty crooks and unruly juveniles by kneecapping them, sometimes with bullets, sometimes with a … power drill. The degree of crippling one receives is supposed to be a reflection of the gravity of one's crime.
—Bill Barich
—often used figuratively
… hearing from people who grasp their brows in dire concern over whether the President is now too damaged to carry on—this from people who have been doing their … best to kneecap the man for years.
—Molly Ivins
This 66-yard scoring drive Smith engineered late in the first half … basically kneecapped the home team.
—Austin Murphy
The decision to liquidate $25 million worth of the band's Live Nation stock last year nearly kneecapped the company …
—Steve Kandell


Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Williams underwent medial patellofemoral ligament reconstruction, an operation needed to attach the inside part of the kneecap to the femur.
—Mark Inabinett | Minabinett@al.com, al, 19 Aug. 2023
Old-school draft: The Lions were true to the persona of their coach Dan Campbell, who famously said his team will bite the kneecaps and kick the teeth of opponents.
—Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Apr. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'kneecap.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.



Word History
First Known Use
Noun

1833, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1974, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of kneecap was in 1833
See more words from the same year

Articles Related to kneecap
elephant or mastodon tusks protruding from a wall
The Words of the Week - Nov. 4

Dictionary lookups from social media, publishing, and politics



Dictionary Entries Near kneecap
knee buckle

kneecap

kneecapping


Cite this Entry
Style

MLA
“Kneecap.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/kneecap. Accessed 14 Sep. 2023.

Copy Citation

Share
Post the Definition of kneecap to Facebook
Facebook
Share the Definition of kneecap on Twitter
Twitter

Kids Definition
kneecap

noun
knee·;cap ;n;-;kap
: a thick flat movable bone forming the front part of the knee
 called also patella



Medical Definition
kneecap

noun
knee·;cap ;n;-;kap
: PATELLA

More from Merriam-Webster on kneecap
Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for kneecap

Nglish: Translation of kneecap for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: 26 Aug 2023 - Updated example sentences