KENNING Synonyms: 119 Similar and Opposite Words

kenning 1 of 2

noun

Definition of kenning

chiefly Scottish

as in halfpenny

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

kenning

2 of 2

verb

present participle of ken, chiefly Scottish

as in fathoming

Related Words

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

Monday was a perfect example, when the two biggest drags on the S&P 500 were Nvidia and Micron, but were offset almost to the penny by gains in Apple and Meta, helping the index itself to finish a whisper from unchanged.

— Michael Santoli, CNBC, 13 Oct. 2026
Lance Leipold has heard the whispers through the years that perhaps Kansas’ football coach doesn’t place enough emphasis on the yearly Sunflower Showdown against Kansas State.

— Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of whisper

Verb

His emergence as the frontrunner to oust Starmer rattled bond markets earlier this year, with investors perceiving Burnham as much more left-leaning than his predecessor.

— Chloe Taylor, CNBC, 6 Oct. 2026
Here’s what to know—and why consumers may be perceiving a greater number of outbreaks than usual, despite what the data shows.

— Rebecca Schneid, Time, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of perceiving

Noun

Tiny bugs float in the sun like dust motes, and there are graceful flies large enough to require a runway landing.

— John Metcalfe, Mercury News, 4 May 2026
Sunbeams through the windows illuminate floating dust motes—and, imperceptibly, microdroplets of mucus carrying the measles virus, expelled from an infected but asymptomatic child who is hopping and laughing among the others.

— Elizabeth Bruenig, The Atlantic, 12 Feb. 2026

Definition of mote

Verb

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

— Jane LaCroix, PEOPLE, 26 Sep. 2026
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation initially contacted Roswell police and asked for assistance locating and apprehending Spruill.

— Zachary Bynum, CBS News, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of apprehending

Noun

The technique produces individual hydrogen atoms under mild conditions, addressing a long-standing challenge in preparing and using these reactive particles.

— Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 9 Oct. 2026
Mortals have material boundaries formed of atoms and molecules.

— The Christian Science Monitor, Christian Science Monitor, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of atom

Verb

The opening brings Polène closer to its West Coast customer base as the company continues to expand internationally, following recent openings across Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia-Pacific.

— Ryma Chikhoune, Footwear News, 16 Oct. 2026
Jayendu Krishna, a director at Drewry Maritime Advisors, said none of the major container shipping lines had resumed services through Hormuz since suspending operations following the outbreak of the war in February.

— Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of following

Browse Nearby Words

kennels

kenning

kennings

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Kenning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/kenning. Accessed 18 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of kenning

noun

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on kenning

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

bon vivant

Popular in Grammar & Usage

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Popular in Wordplay

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

The Words of the Week - Oct. 16

Popular

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

Games & Quizzes