KENNING Synonyms: 119 Similar and Opposite Words

kenning 1 of 2

noun

Definition of kenning

chiefly Scottish

as in halfpenny

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Dissimilar Words

kenning

2 of 2

verb

present participle of ken, chiefly Scottish

as in fathoming

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Dissimilar Words

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 kenning

Noun

This is a kenning that evokes a natural transition to darkness and also an unfinished human endeavor. — Jonah Walters, Longreads, 24 Oct. 2024 Most of the writers attempting to imitate Tolkien weren’t steeped in the rhythm of Old English kennings, or the spiritual yearning of chivalric romance. — Matthew Gavin Frank, Harper's Magazine, 2 June 2023 My favorite parts of the book are those where there's a new kenning. — Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 14 Apr. 2023

Recent Examples of Synonyms for kenning

Noun

Indeed, in 2023, his music earned him just shy of $200,000, about one halfpenny at a time.

— Brett Martin, New York Times, 31 Mar. 2024
In nineteenth-century England, tailors would place old halfpennies in the pockets of a man’s new suit for good luck.

— Hua Hsu, The New Yorker, 18 Sep. 2023

Definition of halfpenny

Verb

For starters, even though federal law requires hospitals to list their prices publicly, fathoming these files is almost impossible.

— Rufina Chow, NBC news, 3 Apr. 2026
However, Chiefs veteran center Creed Humphrey says his team won't be listening to those, or even fathoming the thought of panicking.

— Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 18 Nov. 2025

Definition of fathoming

Noun

Stepping into a pool of mid-afternoon light, Claire Mazza raised her left arm above her head, eyes fixed on the whisper-thin space between her thumb and second finger.

— Lucy Gellman, Hartford Courant, 7 Nov. 2026
Even as everyone is talking to Jeff at Tribal, there are whispers back and forth, and the only words emerging are Eric and Brady, with a lot of I don’t knows thrown in for good measure.

— Brian Moylan, Vulture, 5 Nov. 2026

Definition of whisper

Verb

An artist and musician by trade, Hunt brought an outsider’s instinct to the architectural blueprint of Fashion Forward, perceiving early on that creative industries rarely exist in isolation outside of corporate org charts.

— Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 13 Oct. 2026
While linear broadcasters, like streamers, are still perceiving YouTube as a major disruptor and challenger, a number of them have started working more closely with the platform to tap into younger demographics and generate new advertising revenue.

— Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of perceiving

Noun

But there are actual terrifying objects in space, entities operating on a scale that crush our minds and reduce our human experience to a mote of dust floating in the dark.

— Phil Plait, Scientific American, 30 Oct. 2026
The exception is Jagannathan’s territorial FBI special agent Alexandra Quinn, unimpressed by Jonah’s ability to recognize a mote of Pittsburgh slag cement in Michael’s hair, or to tell a sliver of Table Mountain pine from any other sliver of pine.

— Robert Lloyd, Los Angeles Times, 28 Oct. 2026

Definition of mote

Verb

Employees have become burned out and morally conflicted as their focus has shifted from pursuing drug smugglers and human traffickers to apprehending asylum seekers in courthouses and arresting day laborers at their worksites.

— Francisco Cantú, New Yorker, 2 Nov. 2026
Only instead of just peacefully apprehending opponents, Doncic’s super-competitive alter ego wants to smash them all under an array of increasingly rude step-back jumpers.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of apprehending

Noun

The main difference in these exotic atoms is that the electron substitutes are much heavier.

— George Musser, Quanta Magazine, 2 Nov. 2026
There are various families of bodies in the outer solar system, and 3I/ATLAS’ spectrum bears a resemblance to the spectrum of some medium-sized TNOs that are rich in carbon-dioxide ice and organic compounds (organic meaning containing carbon atoms).

— Keith Cooper, Space.com, 2 Nov. 2026

Definition of atom

Verb

With the election results, Schumer has appeared to improve his position with the caucus, following a tumultuous tenure in recent years.

— Kaia Hubbard, CBS News, 13 Nov. 2026
Some of Nvidia's biggest rivals, such as Broadcom, Intel and Advanced Micro Devices, saw their shares advance Thursday following Huang's departure as investors predicted that its customers will look to diversify their suppliers.

— ABC News, ABC News, 13 Nov. 2026

Definition of following

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Style

“Kenning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/kenning. Accessed 15 Nov. 2026.

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Synonyms of kenning

noun

verb

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