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
The coalition is urging for leveling the playing field for small farmers and giving them a seat at the policymaking table.
—
Mikayla Price, CBS News, 18 May 2026
The hosts rode on a 137 from Mushfiqur Rahim to put on 390 in the second innings, setting Pakistan the 400-plus target for a series-leveling victory.
—ABC News, 18 May 2026
San Antonio stretched its lead to as many as 47 points on the way to leveling the series at one game apiece.
—Jon Krawczynski, New York Times, 7 May 2026
In recent weeks, the Israeli army has been leveling neighborhoods in towns and villages near the Lebanese-Israeli border.
—Bassem Mroue, Los Angeles Times, 2 May 2026
Prepare the soil by leveling and firming it.
—Elizabeth Jardina, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 Apr. 2026
The league is pushing for centralized television production for all teams, which would go a long way to leveling the financial playing field.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Apr. 2026
The tornado left a trail of damage in Hillsdale, Kansas, Monday night, wrecking an RV park, toppling power lines, leveling homes and destroying a storage facility near West 255th Street.
—Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 16 Apr. 2026
Federal prosecutors say the flames quickly spread, collapsing the roof and leveling the entire facility, which stored household products like Kleenex and Cottonelle.
—Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 15 Apr. 2026
Mikayla Price, CBS News, 18 May 2026
The hosts rode on a 137 from Mushfiqur Rahim to put on 390 in the second innings, setting Pakistan the 400-plus target for a series-leveling victory.
—ABC News, 18 May 2026
San Antonio stretched its lead to as many as 47 points on the way to leveling the series at one game apiece.
—Jon Krawczynski, New York Times, 7 May 2026
In recent weeks, the Israeli army has been leveling neighborhoods in towns and villages near the Lebanese-Israeli border.
—Bassem Mroue, Los Angeles Times, 2 May 2026
Prepare the soil by leveling and firming it.
—Elizabeth Jardina, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 Apr. 2026
The league is pushing for centralized television production for all teams, which would go a long way to leveling the financial playing field.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Apr. 2026
The tornado left a trail of damage in Hillsdale, Kansas, Monday night, wrecking an RV park, toppling power lines, leveling homes and destroying a storage facility near West 255th Street.
—Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 16 Apr. 2026
Federal prosecutors say the flames quickly spread, collapsing the roof and leveling the entire facility, which stored household products like Kleenex and Cottonelle.
—Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 15 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for leveling
Verb
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There is perhaps no other athletic footwear brand who’s cracked the code of balancing retro design with new innovation like New Balance has.—
Riley Jones,
Footwear News,
24 May 2026
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Account executives act as the primary point of contact between a business and its clients, balancing customer relationship management with sales and business development responsibilities.—
ByBryan Robinson,
Forbes.com,
22 May 2026
Verb
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The outlier in my everflowing makeup bag is a skin care-like formula that adds a noticeable glow and blurring effect—smoothing big pores and all.—
Reece Andavolgyi,
InStyle,
24 May 2026
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This smoothing foundation by Charlotte Tilbury, this Mac pressed powder that keeps shine at bay, and an Olaplex hair duo that’ll wash sweaty summer buildup right down the drain.—
Averi Baudler,
PEOPLE,
22 May 2026
Verb
-
Simmons uses his inside right hand to punch, aiming for the V of the defender’s neck while keeping his outside left hand firm to gauge where the rusher is looking to go.—
PJ Green
May 23,
Kansas City Star,
23 May 2026
-
But a pandemic-era program is helping to keep it afloat as inflation worsens, while also aiming to create a new generation of seafood lovers.—
Joe Hernandez,
NPR,
23 May 2026
Verb
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His perfect parade was broken up by an error in the fourth inning when miscommunication between Andy Pages and Kyle Tucker led to Trea Turner’s fly ball glancing off Tucker’s glove and dropping to the warning track uncaught.—
Bill Plunkett,
Oc Register,
30 May 2026
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As vehicles drive by on a nearby road, he can be seen dropping to the ground.—
Tim Stelloh,
NBC news,
30 May 2026
Verb
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The plan involves demolishing the building and constructing a near-replica on the same Beatties Ford Road footprint.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
29 May 2026
-
Indeed, back in the 1990s and 2000s, municipalities across the country were happily demolishing Brutalist eyesores made to house the poor.—
Leslie Felperin,
HollywoodReporter,
22 May 2026
Verb
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Contemporary theories of consciousness generally attempt to bridge this gap by equating consciousness with some measurable, physical property of the brain.—
Conor Feehly,
Big Think,
10 Mar. 2026
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The administration reframes the drug war as military conflict, equating cartels to terrorist groups like ISIS and prioritizing lethal force over law enforcement.—
Joshua Goodman,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Every deployment contributes to future capability, which means the value curve bends upward with time rather than flattening.—
Sandy Carter,
Forbes.com,
25 May 2026
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Plus, high inflation and resilient growth would typically lead markets to price in rate hikes from the Federal Reserve, flattening the yield curve as short-term rates rise more than long-term rates.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
23 May 2026
Verb
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Given the casting has been highly anticipated, fans have been quick to share their thoughts on who their ideal casting choices are.—
Lexy Perez,
HollywoodReporter,
28 May 2026
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Thoughts will naturally turn to who will play the lead, with casting yet to come.—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
28 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Leveling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/leveling. Accessed 31 May. 2026.
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