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

Chiefly, engineers will need to design lightweight compressors that can capture and pressurize the whisper-thin Martian air.

— Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 27 Oct. 2026
Wildwood is a dark tale, with whispers of a witch, set against the beautiful yet formidable backdrop of rural New England.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 23 Oct. 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

After maybe 10,000 individual motes of noise that chatter like mouse clicks, the song ends with a slow, jangly fadeout.

— Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 26 Oct. 2026
But director Lance Oppenheim and his DP David Bolen shot the luxe rentals of You Can See Everything with very little artificial light, on actual film, which shows every crack and dust mote.

— Adriane Quinlan, Curbed, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of mote

Verb

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
The film cuts between Murray cautiously opening the suspicious package and FBI agents apprehending Kaczynski decades later.

— Jane LaCroix, PEOPLE, 26 Sep. 2026

Definition of apprehending

Noun

Measuring just a few nanometres, the molecule can attach to gold surfaces through sulfur atoms.

— Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 24 Oct. 2026
Eventually, the expansion of the universe let the cosmos cool enough for the plasma to largely dissipate and form atoms.

— Charles Q. Choi, Space.com, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of atom

Verb

The show’s producers had been looking for someone who could create the same kind of following that Jones enjoyed among teenagers.

— Daniel Ross Goodman, The Washington Examiner, 30 Oct. 2026
McMinnville Municipal Airport remained open following the accident, according to reports.

— Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 30 Oct. 2026

Definition of following

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Style

“Kenning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/kenning. Accessed 1 Nov. 2026.

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Synonyms of kenning

noun

verb

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