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
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 leveling
Longtime English Premier League player Riyad Mahrez served in a beautiful in-swinger from the near corner that connected with the head of Benbouali, leveling the score 1-1.
—
Christian Babcock,
Mercury News,
23 June 2026
How drones are leveling the military playing field.
—
Alex Knapp,
Forbes.com,
21 June 2026
In addition to the colors, which will only be available on this series of Continentals, each car also features a Satin stripe running down the center of the vehicle and rides on a set of black 22-inch wheels with self-leveling badges.
—
Bryan Hood,
Robb Report,
17 June 2026
Others chided Pattie Gonia for leveling the accusation against Patagonia, a company considered by many as a leader in sustainability, without painting a full picture of the case.
—
Brittany Peterson,
Fortune,
12 June 2026
That might be done by filling it with debris from hospital construction and graded earth or by leveling it with parking structures that would support an elevated ground floor.
—
Los Angeles Times,
12 June 2026
The bombings literally created a firestorm, levelling between 85 to 99 percent of the town, with what was left continuing to burn for days.
—
Scott M. Reid,
Oc Register,
10 June 2026
How technology is leveling the playing field Automation has enabled small businesses to step up their recruiting efforts.
—
Audrey Payne,
CNBC,
29 May 2026
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
Christian Babcock,
Mercury News,
23 June 2026
How drones are leveling the military playing field.
—
Alex Knapp,
Forbes.com,
21 June 2026
In addition to the colors, which will only be available on this series of Continentals, each car also features a Satin stripe running down the center of the vehicle and rides on a set of black 22-inch wheels with self-leveling badges.
—
Bryan Hood,
Robb Report,
17 June 2026
Others chided Pattie Gonia for leveling the accusation against Patagonia, a company considered by many as a leader in sustainability, without painting a full picture of the case.
—
Brittany Peterson,
Fortune,
12 June 2026
That might be done by filling it with debris from hospital construction and graded earth or by leveling it with parking structures that would support an elevated ground floor.
—
Los Angeles Times,
12 June 2026
The bombings literally created a firestorm, levelling between 85 to 99 percent of the town, with what was left continuing to burn for days.
—
Scott M. Reid,
Oc Register,
10 June 2026
How technology is leveling the playing field Automation has enabled small businesses to step up their recruiting efforts.
—
Audrey Payne,
CNBC,
29 May 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for leveling
Verb
-
Their chemistry grounds every emotional turn of the film, balancing comedy, heartbreak, and tenderness with confidence and precision.
-
Still, balancing fast ion movement with high selectivity remains a major scientific and engineering challenge.
Verb
-
This one’s made with a blend of recycled materials and spandex, which reviewers say is thick and comfortably smoothing, and features adjustable criss-cross back straps and a shelf bra.
-
True to its name, the lightweight styler enhances your natural texture while smoothing flyaways and boosting softness (no heat required).
Verb
-
The renovation masterfully blends contemporary comforts with the Inn's historic character, aiming for a sophisticated yet authentic residential feel.
-
Ukraine has repeatedly targeted Russian oil facilities, aiming to cut Moscow’s revenue for the war and make Russians feel the consequences of the invasion.
Verb
-
The water-dropping helicopters returned during Friday's flare-up.
-
Participation ebbs and flows with the economy, dropping to 35 million in 2019.
Verb
-
Indeed, many media observers—inside and outside the network—have gone so far as to suggest that demolishing the status quo seems to be central to Weiss’s mandate.
-
In February 2024, police gave him and his wife minutes to pack before demolishing their home.
Verb
-
After Harriman posted a second video about the rise of the Reform party, Right-wing commentators accused him of equating Reform’s ascent to the Holocaust.
-
There is a version of leadership that confuses visibility with impact, equating big initiatives and dramatic turnarounds with strong leadership.
Verb
-
Wilson’s achievement is to bring these meanings forward without flattening the poem’s strangeness or grandeur.
-
The answer to modern public life is not flattening everything into slogans or reducing politics to content.
Verb
-
Hilton, running on a platform of affordability and lowering taxes, has seized on the sentiment, casting health coverage for immigrants without legal status as deeply unfair and a direct threat to the state’s ability to help citizens.
-
Like Vasana Montgomery’s case, also this year, the video was not shared publicly until after her casting announcement.
Cite this Entry
“Leveling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/leveling. Accessed 27 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
