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
But Sia filed her own documents on Tuesday, countering Bernad's claims as to her sobriety, questioning his own, and leveling a new, incendiary allegation.
—
Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Oct. 2025
She was forced into making a low diving save in the 70th minute to keep Grand Canyon from leveling the score.
—Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 24 Oct. 2025
The slide created a gargantuan splash – a hyper-local, but massive tsunami that ran up the opposite mountain slope, leveling everything in its path as high as the Empire State Building.
—Ella Nilsen, CNN Money, 22 Oct. 2025
But in the context of a multi-track feud in which Drake was also leveling incendiary language at Lamar, his case fell flat to judge Jeannette Vargas.
—Jennifer Zhan, Vulture, 9 Oct. 2025
The fire tore through affluent coastal neighborhoods, leveling mansions with sweeping ocean views and reducing schools, businesses and churches to ash.
—Gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Oct. 2025
The failure to build on the momentum after going ahead was compounded by OL’s growth in confidence after levelling.
—Art De Roché, New York Times, 8 Oct. 2025
Other creature comforts include a Renogy electrical system with a touchscreen command center, air conditioning, and an auto-leveling suspension.
—Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 6 Oct. 2025
Just before touching down, DART performs a pitch-leveling maneuver, which straightens its flight angle and ensures all four legs make even contact.
—Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 6 Oct. 2025
Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Oct. 2025
She was forced into making a low diving save in the 70th minute to keep Grand Canyon from leveling the score.
—Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 24 Oct. 2025
The slide created a gargantuan splash – a hyper-local, but massive tsunami that ran up the opposite mountain slope, leveling everything in its path as high as the Empire State Building.
—Ella Nilsen, CNN Money, 22 Oct. 2025
But in the context of a multi-track feud in which Drake was also leveling incendiary language at Lamar, his case fell flat to judge Jeannette Vargas.
—Jennifer Zhan, Vulture, 9 Oct. 2025
The fire tore through affluent coastal neighborhoods, leveling mansions with sweeping ocean views and reducing schools, businesses and churches to ash.
—Gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Oct. 2025
The failure to build on the momentum after going ahead was compounded by OL’s growth in confidence after levelling.
—Art De Roché, New York Times, 8 Oct. 2025
Other creature comforts include a Renogy electrical system with a touchscreen command center, air conditioning, and an auto-leveling suspension.
—Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 6 Oct. 2025
Just before touching down, DART performs a pitch-leveling maneuver, which straightens its flight angle and ensures all four legs make even contact.
—Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 6 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for leveling
Verb
-
First-generation students make up a growing share, often balancing multiple obligations while pursuing a credential.—
Yolanda Watson Spiva,
Fortune,
8 Nov. 2025
-
The competition involved standing on a narrow beam while balancing a ball on a disc and moving feet and hands down the beam and pole at intervals.—
Dalton Ross,
Entertainment Weekly,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Phased retirement can also help companies to manage the consequences of the looming workforce contraction by forestalling brain drain and smoothing succession planning — all while preserving the institutional knowledge and relationships that help companies thrive.—
Mary Moreland,
Fortune,
31 Dec. 2025
-
Pour batter into prepared baking pan, spreading to edges and smoothing top.—
Kimberly Holland,
Southern Living,
30 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
The team plans to utilize their new experimental platform to investigate other twisted 2D materials, aiming to identify new candidates for future technologies.—
Aman Tripathi,
Interesting Engineering,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Tapestry laid out its new strategic vision in September, aiming to build Coach to a $10 billion business by widening the definition of its target audience and essentially going after everybody who might conceivably buy a handbag, not just the people who bought one last year.—
Evan Clark,
Footwear News,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Tu knows this season will look and feel a lot different for people this year (between the limited funds for gifts, traveling to see family and dropping money on once-a-year expenses).—
Kimberly Wilson,
Essence,
7 Nov. 2025
-
The Arizona transfer torched KU last year, shooting 7-for-11 from the field and dropping 19 points.—
Shreyas Laddha,
Kansas City Star,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
The military showed us a map of Hamas tunnel routes Israeli forces are still discovering and demolishing in the area.—
Daniel Estrin,
NPR,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Most recently, crews began demolishing the East Wing of the White House.—
Fernando Cervantes Jr,
USA Today,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Advertisement What’s more, equating darkness with evil and goodness with light may be a relatively recent invention.—
Veronique Greenwood,
Time,
21 Dec. 2025
-
Buyers are a 50-50 male/female split with Generation X equating for approximately 50 percent of all buyers.—
Eileen Falkenberg-Hull,
MSNBC Newsweek,
14 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
These hues reflect light without flattening a space, and pair well with both light and dark cabinetry.—
Angelika Pokovba,
Martha Stewart,
7 Jan. 2026
-
There is no sign of an asteroid heading to earth anything like the one that exploded over Siberia on June 30, 1908, flattening 500,00 acres.—
Kevin Rennie,
Hartford Courant,
3 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Nearly 30 years after its release, Freaky Friday was remade by Mean Girls director Mark Waters, casting Lindsay Lohan in the role inspired by Foster's, and Jamie Lee Curtis in the role inspired by Harris' character.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
9 Jan. 2026
-
Presented by the Global Chapter of CSA, this award recognizes individuals or organizations internationally who have made a positive impact to the casting profession through innovative and meaningful contributions within the global entertainment industry.—
Sarah Shachat,
IndieWire,
8 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Leveling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/leveling. Accessed 9 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share