as in beating
failure to win a contest
our team took a licking last night, but we'll get them next time
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in pounding
to strike repeatedly
your father will lick you good if he hears you using swear words
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in defeating
to achieve a victory over
he's determined to do everything he can to lick the cancer
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of licking
Benedict Cosgrove, Newsweek, 20 Dec. 2024
Subtle cues like stiff posture, yawning, or lip licking can also signal distress.
—Jason Fields, Newsweek, 5 Dec. 2024
Dan Perry, Newsweek, 19 Mar. 2025
Erotica assumes shared association, touching, stroking, licking, looking, playing, exposing.
—Lisa Wong MacAbasco, Vogue, 17 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for licking
Noun
If the licking is excessive, a new behavior or accompanied by signs of illness, there could be a medical cause for this behavior.
—Benedict Cosgrove, Newsweek, 20 Dec. 2024
Subtle cues like stiff posture, yawning, or lip licking can also signal distress.
—Jason Fields, Newsweek, 5 Dec. 2024
Verb
Despite her best efforts, 4-year-old Dewey eventually succeeded in wriggling his way over to the sleeping man, enthusiastically licking him awake.
—Dan Perry, Newsweek, 19 Mar. 2025
Erotica assumes shared association, touching, stroking, licking, looking, playing, exposing.
—Lisa Wong MacAbasco, Vogue, 17 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for licking
Recent Examples of Synonyms for licking
Noun
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Correa is accused of participating in beatings, electrocutions and other forms of abuses while allegedly acting as part of a death squad operating under former Gambian dictator Yahya Jammeh.—
Gordon G. Chang,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Apr. 2025
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Stocks have taken a severe beating, with many investors selling positions after President Donald Trump unveiled his latest tariff policies late Wednesday.—
Lisa Kailai Han,
CNBC,
5 Apr. 2025
Verb
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But the unhappy ending is especially head-pounding for Saxon Ratliff (Patrick Schwarzenegger).—
Bryan Alexander,
USA TODAY,
24 Mar. 2025
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Queen finished with a team-best 17 points, but Maryland frequently settled for outside jumpers instead of pounding the ball inside to Queen and Julian Reese.—
Lindsay Schnell,
The Athletic,
24 Mar. 2025
Noun
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The 30-year-old, who has played 29 times for Bournemouth in the Premier League this season, was withdrawn on 58 minutes during his side’s 2-1 defeat at Ipswich Town on April 2.—
Leon Imber,
New York Times,
9 Apr. 2025
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The loss ends Bayern Munich’s run of 22 home games without a defeat in the Champions League.—
Manuel Veth,
Forbes.com,
8 Apr. 2025
Verb
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But over the past two terms of the Hindu nationalist government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, these vendors were accused of hiding their identity, of pretending to be Hindu.—
Ismat Ara,
TIME,
15 Mar. 2025
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With their teeth bared in a frozen rictus grin, this couple appears to be hiding a darkness which we are left only to guess at.—
Naomi Fry,
The New Yorker,
15 Mar. 2025
Noun
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The loss ended a remarkable winning streak for Keys that began in Adelaide the week before the Australian Open.—
Matthew Futterman,
The Athletic,
15 Mar. 2025
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Ware recorded seven points and three rebounds in 15 minutes off the Heat’s bench in Friday’s loss.—
Anthony Chiang,
Miami Herald,
15 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Elle was also seen whipping her hands in a circle to the music during the awards ceremony.—
Stephanie Wenger,
People.com,
6 Jan. 2025
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This instant camera captures little moments and big occasions on film, which feels a little more special than whipping out an iPhone.—
Malia Griggs,
Glamour,
2 Jan. 2025
Verb
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The unit uses tools that were once the preserve of the world’s top mastering houses and is inspired by the artistry of mastering engineers.—
Mark Sparrow,
Forbes,
25 Mar. 2025
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From entry-level careers to the C-suite, mastering soft skills opens up leadership opportunities.—
Cheryl Robinson,
Forbes,
24 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Instead, color drenching would best fit the sign—think monochromatic hues on the walls, ceiling, trimmings, and even furniture.—
Isabella Milano,
Better Homes & Gardens,
3 Apr. 2025
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More stringent vegetation management, tree trimming, the use of Public Safety Power Shutoffs — That’s preemptively turning off the power when the risks are high.—
Sammy Roth,
Los Angeles Times,
3 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Licking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/licking. Accessed 23 Apr. 2025.
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