variants
or levelling
1
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in aiming
to point or turn (something) toward a target or goal
the marksman leveled his gun at the target and fired
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in dropping
to strike (someone) so forcefully as to cause a fall
the boxer leveled his opponent with a single blow
Synonyms & Similar Words
5
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of leveling
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
But your interest in separating eggs, stirring continuously, sifting or spooning or levelling flour—in short, your interest in baking—is a lie, although your interest in baked goods remains very much true.
—Talia Argondezzi, New Yorker, 3 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
The overhead cabinets feature a self-leveling design to keep contents from sliding or rolling around, allowing campers to keep all their dishes and provisions stored while driving.
—New Atlas, 21 Jan. 2026
Albacete twice took the lead through Javier Villar de Fraile and Betancor, with Franco Mastantuono and then Garcia twice levelling for Madrid.
—Colin Millar, New York Times, 14 Jan. 2026
Observers believe these could house electromagnets or components for self-leveling suspension.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 30 Dec. 2025
With the puck deep in the San Diego zone and the Canucks threatening, Gulls defenseman Stan Stolberg crushed Nils Aman with a shoulder to the chest, leveling him.
—Ivan Carter, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Dec. 2025
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
But your interest in separating eggs, stirring continuously, sifting or spooning or levelling flour—in short, your interest in baking—is a lie, although your interest in baked goods remains very much true.
—Talia Argondezzi, New Yorker, 3 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
The overhead cabinets feature a self-leveling design to keep contents from sliding or rolling around, allowing campers to keep all their dishes and provisions stored while driving.
—New Atlas, 21 Jan. 2026
Albacete twice took the lead through Javier Villar de Fraile and Betancor, with Franco Mastantuono and then Garcia twice levelling for Madrid.
—Colin Millar, New York Times, 14 Jan. 2026
Observers believe these could house electromagnets or components for self-leveling suspension.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 30 Dec. 2025
With the puck deep in the San Diego zone and the Canucks threatening, Gulls defenseman Stan Stolberg crushed Nils Aman with a shoulder to the chest, leveling him.
—Ivan Carter, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for leveling
Verb
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Finally, a justice has to bring practical judgment to balancing competing interests when the legal text does not settle an issue, or the court acts as the leader for the entire state judiciary.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
16 Feb. 2026
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Humphrey's work consists of reviewing thousands of messages and tags, seeking permission from original video creators and balancing humor with teasing.—
Kate Perez,
USA Today,
14 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The smoothing system, a blend of ingredients, softens and moisturizes the hair’s cuticle to deeply condition, while the amino acid blend helps prevent breakage and keeps the scalp moisturized.—
Jamie Wilson,
Glamour,
20 Feb. 2026
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As the sensitive Pisces Moon meets romantic Venus, we may be drawn to kindness, simple pleasures, and smoothing rough edges.—
Tarot.com,
Baltimore Sun,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Martinez was aiming to become the eighth Coloradoan since 2014 to win titles in four different weight classes, having taken the 130-pound crown in ’23; the 135-pound title in ’24; and the 140-pound championship last year.—
Sean Keeler,
Denver Post,
22 Feb. 2026
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Several players are aiming to deliver production-ready prototypes between 2026 and 2027.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
21 Feb. 2026
Verb
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This jaw-dropping arts center also hosts plays, dance performances, classical concerts, and contemporary music gigs by major names such as Bob Dylan, Patti Smith, Björk, New Order, Paul Weller, and Lorde.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
21 Feb. 2026
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Sub-freezing temperatures are expected to linger Friday morning, dropping as low as 20 degrees.—
Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado,
Sacbee.com,
20 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Converting Gary Works to an Electric Arc Furnace facility would mean shutting down the entire plant, demolishing it, and building new facilities.—
Tara Molina,
CBS News,
18 Feb. 2026
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The plans accommodate through-running train capacity without demolishing the neighborhood south of Penn.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Advertisement What’s more, equating darkness with evil and goodness with light may be a relatively recent invention.—
Veronique Greenwood,
Time,
21 Dec. 2025
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Buyers are a 50-50 male/female split with Generation X equating for approximately 50 percent of all buyers.—
Eileen Falkenberg-Hull,
MSNBC Newsweek,
14 Nov. 2025
Verb
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But the film’s indifference to questions of authenticity ends flattening one of the story’s most uncomfortable and essential truths.—
Ana Gutierrez,
Austin American Statesman,
11 Feb. 2026
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Compression packing cubes, in particular, are critical for saving space and flattening clothes as much as possible.—
Lydia Mansel,
Travel + Leisure,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
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But in the opening minutes of his first stop at a local restaurant, the president raised debunked claims of voter fraud, talked up his plan to require voters to show identification before casting ballots, and discussed the recent FBI raid of election offices in the state’s most populous county.—
Jeff Amy,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Feb. 2026
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Commissioners voted 3-1 to remove Sanchez de Fuentes, with Angela Eady casting the sole dissenting vote and Commissioner Jannette Martinez absent.—
Natalia Jaramillo,
The Orlando Sentinel,
19 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Leveling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/leveling. Accessed 22 Feb. 2026.
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