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
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
Since agreeing last week to a ceasefire with Hezbollah, the Israeli army has been leveling neighborhoods in towns and villages near the Lebanese-Israeli border.
—ABC News, 24 Apr. 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
His shot generated a rebound for Carlsson, who patiently waited out Tolopilo to flick a score-leveling backhand for his 29th goal of 2025-26.
—Andrew Knoll, Oc Register, 13 Apr. 2026
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
Since agreeing last week to a ceasefire with Hezbollah, the Israeli army has been leveling neighborhoods in towns and villages near the Lebanese-Israeli border.
—ABC News, 24 Apr. 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
His shot generated a rebound for Carlsson, who patiently waited out Tolopilo to flick a score-leveling backhand for his 29th goal of 2025-26.
—Andrew Knoll, Oc Register, 13 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for leveling
Verb
-
Think of a sales associate who does not know how to book a flight or select the best route to a customer meeting, balancing schedules, their own time, and price.—
Nisha Talagala,
Forbes.com,
9 May 2026
-
Nearly a decade later, both actors are firmly in A-list territory, balancing blockbuster franchises, fashion partnerships, and increasingly global careers.—
Abby Montanez,
Robb Report,
8 May 2026
Verb
-
Pour the filling into the unbaked pie crust, smoothing the top.—
Alana Al-Hatlani,
Southern Living,
10 May 2026
-
It’s designed with side-smoothing panels, separated cups, and wide, adjustable straps.—
Jamie Allison Sanders,
PEOPLE,
10 May 2026
Verb
-
The team is aiming for a January 2027 start.—
Andreas Wiseman,
Deadline,
16 May 2026
-
Iceland’s official eclipse site says 13 cruise ships are expected around Iceland for the event, with vessels aiming to maximize totality and retain the flexibility to adjust position for clearer skies.—
David Nikel,
Forbes.com,
16 May 2026
Verb
-
Philadelphia will hit 90° as soon as Monday and rise to 93° on Tuesday before dropping to a more manageable 88° on Wednesday.—
Theresa Braine,
New York Daily News,
15 May 2026
-
And the data show that this is also benefiting solar power, with the impact of aerosols dropping over the last few years.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
15 May 2026
Verb
-
The work included demolishing one stand entirely to create the space required to facilitate those media demands.—
Richard Sutcliffe,
New York Times,
14 May 2026
-
While the Israel Defense Forces continue to dismantle the physical fortress — recently demolishing the largest Hezbollah tunnel network in southern Lebanon — the Iranian people are dismantling the regime’s internal legitimacy.—
Liram Koblentz-Stenzler,
Chicago Tribune,
11 May 2026
Verb
-
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
-
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
-
In cultural sectors, especially, over-optimization risks flattening meaning.—
Rolling Stone Culture Council,
Rolling Stone,
11 May 2026
-
Early diagnoses make a significant difference in flattening the curve of Parkinson’s debilitating symptoms, as DTaC cofounder Derek Torry explained to us onsite.—
Michael Van Runkle,
Robb Report,
1 May 2026
Verb
-
On Tuesday evening, on the steps of the Capitol, House members made their way down the stairs after casting their votes, some alone, others flanked by staff or trailed by a Hill reporter.—
Antonia Hitchens,
New Yorker,
14 May 2026
-
Reeves, 60, continued his tradition of announcing casting in his screen projects by sharing GIFs on his X account on Thursday, May 14.—
Jack Smart,
PEOPLE,
14 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Leveling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/leveling. Accessed 17 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
