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
This cargo spaceship sets features a retractable vertical takeoff and landing gear, rotating engines, and a self-leveling cockpit when in (play) flight.
—
John Mihaly, PC Magazine, 5 Sep. 2025
In the 82nd minute, SD sub Marcus Ingvartsen equalized with a header off Franco Negri’s cross, leveling the score.
—Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 18 Aug. 2025
Its weighted, anti-slip base stays stable on uneven surfaces and a self-leveling mechanism keeps your drink upright.
—Nora Colomer
May Earn A Commission If You Buy Through Our Referral Links. This Content Was Created By A Team That Works Independently From The Fox Newsroom., FOXNews.com, 6 Aug. 2025
London remains Europe's fintech capital, but cities such as Amsterdam are further leveling the field by developing specializations in sustainable technology.
—Bernardo Saraiva, Forbes.com, 5 Aug. 2025
Laura Prepon and her estranged husband Ben Foster are leveling new allegations at each other amid their ongoing divorce.
—Bailey Richards, People.com, 22 Mar. 2025
Thanks to the car’s self-leveling suspension, De Gaulle’s chauffeur accelerated out of the skid and drove to safety on three wheels.
—Raphael Orlove, Robb Report, 27 Feb. 2025
The Pacific Palisades and Eaton fires devastated entire neighborhoods, leveling more than 16,000 structures and taking 29 lives.
—Tony Saavedra, Orange County Register, 24 Feb. 2025
With tariffs of 20 percent now leveling or even favoring Bangladesh over key competitors, the country finds itself in a potentially advantageous position.
—Mohiuddin Rubel, Sourcing Journal, 3 Sep. 2019
John Mihaly, PC Magazine, 5 Sep. 2025
In the 82nd minute, SD sub Marcus Ingvartsen equalized with a header off Franco Negri’s cross, leveling the score.
—Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 18 Aug. 2025
Its weighted, anti-slip base stays stable on uneven surfaces and a self-leveling mechanism keeps your drink upright.
—Nora Colomer
May Earn A Commission If You Buy Through Our Referral Links. This Content Was Created By A Team That Works Independently From The Fox Newsroom., FOXNews.com, 6 Aug. 2025
London remains Europe's fintech capital, but cities such as Amsterdam are further leveling the field by developing specializations in sustainable technology.
—Bernardo Saraiva, Forbes.com, 5 Aug. 2025
Laura Prepon and her estranged husband Ben Foster are leveling new allegations at each other amid their ongoing divorce.
—Bailey Richards, People.com, 22 Mar. 2025
Thanks to the car’s self-leveling suspension, De Gaulle’s chauffeur accelerated out of the skid and drove to safety on three wheels.
—Raphael Orlove, Robb Report, 27 Feb. 2025
The Pacific Palisades and Eaton fires devastated entire neighborhoods, leveling more than 16,000 structures and taking 29 lives.
—Tony Saavedra, Orange County Register, 24 Feb. 2025
With tariffs of 20 percent now leveling or even favoring Bangladesh over key competitors, the country finds itself in a potentially advantageous position.
—Mohiuddin Rubel, Sourcing Journal, 3 Sep. 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for leveling
Verb
-
In some cases, going overboard on protein and not balancing it with fiber could lead to weight gain or digestive problems.—
Jacqueline Howard,
CNN Money,
12 Sep. 2025
-
Our expert reviews of JBL headphones consistently praises the brand for balancing strong sound with everyday value, and this pair fits right into that category.—
Juhi Wadia,
PC Magazine,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Gallant, sleeveless and heavily tattooed, began slowly smoothing a white sheet atop his model’s shoulders.—
Sarah Larson,
New Yorker,
8 Sep. 2025
-
The multi-styler comes with all kinds of attachments, including several long barrels, two smoothing brushes, a round volumizing brush, and a smoothing dryer.—
Isabel Garcia,
PEOPLE,
7 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The Maine Lottery offers several games for those aiming to win big.—
Jay Cannon,
USA Today,
12 Sep. 2025
-
All the segments understand the assignment, aiming primarily to elicit hoots and hollers.—
James Grebey,
Time,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The video, released Thursday night, showed a person running across a rooftop of the building from which the fatal round was fired before climbing down and dropping to the ground.—
Thao Nguyen,
USA Today,
13 Sep. 2025
-
On Thursday night, additional video was released of the suspect, dropping from a rooftop after the shooting, as authorities asked the public for tips and assistance in identifying him.—
Ted Johnson,
Deadline,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
An image taken on August 19 shows Israeli excavators and bulldozers demolishing buildings in Zeitoun.—
Zeena Saifi,
CNN Money,
12 Sep. 2025
-
About 90% of the former Spring Hill Mall is gone and work demolishing the final anchor store set to begin in the next couple of weeks, officials said.—
Gloria Casas,
Chicago Tribune,
6 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Nonetheless, with policy in restrictive territory, the baseline outlook and the shifting balance of risks may warrant adjusting our policy stance.—
Adeola Adeosun
Robert Birsel,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 Sep. 2025
-
Adaptation shapes responses to match the level of risk, guiding users in the moment, and adjusting trust dynamically.—
Steve Riley,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
And if some of those characters that aren’t the leads are not firing on all cylinders, the film can really start flattening.—
Kevin Cassidy,
HollywoodReporter,
7 Sep. 2025
-
What remains of the material that birthed this still-growing protostar swirls around it, flattening out and eventually forming a protoplanetary disk in which planets can be born.—
Robert Lea,
Space.com,
29 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
According to Alixandra, who didn't share her surname, Sparrow masterminded her own midnight feast by toppling the feeder and prying off the lid.—
Alice Gibbs,
MSNBC Newsweek,
15 Sep. 2025
-
The persecution worsened more than a decade ago during uprisings that remade the Middle East by toppling dictators — including Egyptian strongman Hosni Mubarak — but in some places spiraled into civil war.—
Hannah Allam,
ProPublica,
10 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Leveling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/leveling. Accessed 16 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share