LEVELLING Synonyms: 160 Similar and Opposite Words

leveling

verb

variants or levelling

Definition of leveling next

present participle of level

as in balancing

to make equal in amount, degree, or status we'll give both teams the same equipment so as to level the playing field

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Relevance

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disequilibrating

as in smoothing

to make free from breaks, curves, or bumps the construction workers leveled the ground before laying a foundation for the new house

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as in aiming

to point or turn (something) toward a target or goal the marksman leveled his gun at the target and fired

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as in dropping

to strike (someone) so forcefully as to cause a fall the boxer leveled his opponent with a single blow

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as in demolishing

to destroy (as a building) completely by knocking down or breaking to pieces an old warehouse that was leveled to build a parking lot

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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 leveling Since then, the team had come within one game of leveling its record twice but lost both times, including blowing a 25-point lead in a 116-112 road loss to the San Antonio Spurs on Friday. —

Janis Carr, Oc Register, 10 Mar. 2026 Initially, both decisions went Wrexham’s way with referee Peter Bankes judging Dobson’s foul to be worthy of only a yellow card, while both teams had returned to halfway for the restart in the wake of Brunt seemingly levelling the tie at 3-3 in the 114th of 120 minutes. —

Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 8 Mar. 2026 The firestorm plowed through the Pacific Palisades and into Malibu, burning 23,400 acres and leveling more than 6,800 structures, including many homes. —

Los Angeles Times, 7 Mar. 2026 Add up to 1 inch of leveling mix on top of the low areas with a shovel, smoothing it out as evenly as possible with the straight edge of the thatch rake. —

Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 26 Feb. 2026 An excavator was levelling the ground to build more fortifications. —

Elizabeth Flock, New Yorker, 23 Feb. 2026 Jackson also founds the National Rainbow Coalition, whose mission is to protect, defend and gain civil rights by leveling the economic and educational playing fields, and to promote peace and justice around the world. —

Darcel Rockett, Chicago Tribune, 17 Feb. 2026 On May 17, a bomb rocked Palm Springs, California – shaking structures for several blocks, shattering glass and leveling one innocuous-looking building. —

Curt Devine, CNN Money, 10 Feb. 2026 Tight-fitting clothing minimizes these effects, making competition fairer by leveling the field for all athletes. —

Amy Pope, The Conversation, 2 Feb. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for leveling

Verb

To critics who say her advocacy has taken her far afield of nuts-and-bolts council work like balancing the city budget or advocating for streets riddled with potholes, Kim says just the opposite.

— Frederick Melo, Twin Cities, 8 Mar. 2026
Vendors say a challenge is balancing safety with how much friction users will tolerate.

— Barbara Booth, CNBC, 8 Mar. 2026