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
Since then, the team had come within one game of leveling its record twice but lost both times, including blowing a 25-point lead in a 116-112 road loss to the San Antonio Spurs on Friday.
—
Janis Carr, Oc Register, 10 Mar. 2026
Initially, both decisions went Wrexham’s way with referee Peter Bankes judging Dobson’s foul to be worthy of only a yellow card, while both teams had returned to halfway for the restart in the wake of Brunt seemingly levelling the tie at 3-3 in the 114th of 120 minutes.
—Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 8 Mar. 2026
The firestorm plowed through the Pacific Palisades and into Malibu, burning 23,400 acres and leveling more than 6,800 structures, including many homes.
—Los Angeles Times, 7 Mar. 2026
Add up to 1 inch of leveling mix on top of the low areas with a shovel, smoothing it out as evenly as possible with the straight edge of the thatch rake.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 26 Feb. 2026
An excavator was levelling the ground to build more fortifications.
—Elizabeth Flock, New Yorker, 23 Feb. 2026
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
Tight-fitting clothing minimizes these effects, making competition fairer by leveling the field for all athletes.
—Amy Pope, The Conversation, 2 Feb. 2026
Janis Carr, Oc Register, 10 Mar. 2026
Initially, both decisions went Wrexham’s way with referee Peter Bankes judging Dobson’s foul to be worthy of only a yellow card, while both teams had returned to halfway for the restart in the wake of Brunt seemingly levelling the tie at 3-3 in the 114th of 120 minutes.
—Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 8 Mar. 2026
The firestorm plowed through the Pacific Palisades and into Malibu, burning 23,400 acres and leveling more than 6,800 structures, including many homes.
—Los Angeles Times, 7 Mar. 2026
Add up to 1 inch of leveling mix on top of the low areas with a shovel, smoothing it out as evenly as possible with the straight edge of the thatch rake.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 26 Feb. 2026
An excavator was levelling the ground to build more fortifications.
—Elizabeth Flock, New Yorker, 23 Feb. 2026
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
Tight-fitting clothing minimizes these effects, making competition fairer by leveling the field for all athletes.
—Amy Pope, The Conversation, 2 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for leveling
Verb
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To critics who say her advocacy has taken her far afield of nuts-and-bolts council work like balancing the city budget or advocating for streets riddled with potholes, Kim says just the opposite.—
Frederick Melo,
Twin Cities,
8 Mar. 2026
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Vendors say a challenge is balancing safety with how much friction users will tolerate.—
Barbara Booth,
CNBC,
8 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Among the products her hairstylist used to craft the style, the Nexxus Keraphix Liquid Crystallizer Hair Serum stood out as a great protective, smoothing serum that would fit in anyone’s haircare routine.—
Kaitlin Clapinski,
InStyle,
6 Mar. 2026
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Anything above 220 is considered fine and works well for smoothing edges and buffing the nail surface to a polished finish.—
Lily Wohlner,
Allure,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The Kentucky Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big.—
Ray Padilla,
Louisville Courier Journal,
8 Mar. 2026
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The Hoosier Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big.—
Chris Sims,
IndyStar,
8 Mar. 2026
Verb
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And the Lancers found their shooting touch, hitting 9-of-13 from the field, including dropping three 3s to take a 32-21 halftime lead.—
Don Norcross,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
6 Mar. 2026
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Traffic through the critical waterway has since ground to a near halt, with vessels being attacked and insurers dropping maritime coverage.—
Katie Hunt,
CNN Money,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The arena, which would host sports, concerts and other events, is is expected to cost around $242 million to build, though the entire renovation, which includes demolishing the 58-year-old Millet Hall and installing parking near Cook Field, could cost up to $281 million.—
Victoria Moorwood,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
27 Feb. 2026
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Other possibilities involve demolishing the structure for street-level transit or repurposing it as a pedestrian and bicycle trail.—
David Bauerlein,
Florida Times-Union,
26 Feb. 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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The Embrace Series Insoles are crafted to mimic the cloud-like feel of memory foam without flattening over time, working to maintain continuous adaptability while rebounding with each step.—
Tory Johnson,
ABC News,
2 Mar. 2026
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According to fabric care expert Alicia Sokolowski, ironing is ideal for creating crisp creases, flattening heavy wrinkles, and shaping structured garments like dress shirts, cotton, linen, or denim.—
Louise Parks,
Martha Stewart,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
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As a result, Democrats warned, those groups could be prevented from casting ballots.—
Anthony Man,
Sun Sentinel,
12 Mar. 2026
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The conversation ranged from Hoover adapting her own book, collaborating with Caswill and casting country music star Lainey Wilson in the film.—
Brayden Garcia,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
12 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Leveling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/leveling. Accessed 14 Mar. 2026.
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