as in ranks
the placement of someone or something in relation to others in a vertical arrangement
a young karate student ready to rise to the next level in his chosen art of self-defense
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
1
as in balances
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in smooths
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 aims
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 downs
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 demolishes
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 levels
Jack Lang, New York Times, 28 May 2026
UnidosUS notes that both parties are underperforming their 2024 levels among Latinos, which could be a sign of the broader voter discontent across the electorate towards the leadership of both parties.
—Fin Daniel Gómez, CBS News, 27 May 2026
About 62 million Americans — roughly 1 in 5 — may be drinking tap water with potentially harmful levels of nitrates in water, according to a new report from the Environmental Working Group.
—Ryan Brennan
may 27, Kansas City Star, 27 May 2026
Remote work reduced the share of collaboration time employees spent with cross-group connections by roughly 25% compared to pre-pandemic levels.
—Caroline Castrillon, Forbes.com, 27 May 2026
For this all to work, fellow leaders at all levels of government must also get on board.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 27 May 2026
The system can be tuned to respond to different levels of threat.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 27 May 2026
Jack Moore, ABC News, 24 Apr. 2026
The main difference is that Ruisdael cranes upward, to behold a castle on a hill, whereas Vermeer levels his gaze across open water.
—Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 13 Apr. 2026
The San Jose club will offer players of all skill levels the flexibility to play on their schedule through a simple, all-inclusive monthly membership.
—George Avalos, Mercury News, 8 Apr. 2026
Temperature and rainfall determine how much pollen is released and how quickly levels spike.
—Matthew Robinson, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2026
Russia has managed to recruit 30,000 men a month, levels that Ukraine, with only a quarter of Russia’s population, has struggled to match.
—Olivier Kempf, Harpers Magazine, 24 Mar. 2026
The lawsuit also levels a series of accusations against the city of Los Angeles and its Department of Water and Power.
—City News Service, Daily News, 19 Feb. 2026
But a new documentary about the reality show levels some serious accusations against all those involved in the production.
—Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 16 Feb. 2026
Align with what actually levels you up, not what confirms bias, is rage bait or just gives a dopamine hit.
—Magi Helena, Dallas Morning News, 26 Jan. 2026
Noun
Garrincha also played at the 1966 World Cup, but his drinking had reached catastrophic levels by then.
—Jack Lang, New York Times, 28 May 2026
UnidosUS notes that both parties are underperforming their 2024 levels among Latinos, which could be a sign of the broader voter discontent across the electorate towards the leadership of both parties.
—Fin Daniel Gómez, CBS News, 27 May 2026
About 62 million Americans — roughly 1 in 5 — may be drinking tap water with potentially harmful levels of nitrates in water, according to a new report from the Environmental Working Group.
—Ryan Brennan
may 27, Kansas City Star, 27 May 2026
Remote work reduced the share of collaboration time employees spent with cross-group connections by roughly 25% compared to pre-pandemic levels.
—Caroline Castrillon, Forbes.com, 27 May 2026
For this all to work, fellow leaders at all levels of government must also get on board.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 27 May 2026
The system can be tuned to respond to different levels of threat.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 27 May 2026
Verb
Tornado levels homes in Enid, Oklahoma Residents of Enid, Oklahoma, are surveying the damage on Friday after a massive tornado ripped through the city on Thursday night.
—Jack Moore, ABC News, 24 Apr. 2026
The main difference is that Ruisdael cranes upward, to behold a castle on a hill, whereas Vermeer levels his gaze across open water.
—Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 13 Apr. 2026
The San Jose club will offer players of all skill levels the flexibility to play on their schedule through a simple, all-inclusive monthly membership.
—George Avalos, Mercury News, 8 Apr. 2026
Temperature and rainfall determine how much pollen is released and how quickly levels spike.
—Matthew Robinson, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2026
Russia has managed to recruit 30,000 men a month, levels that Ukraine, with only a quarter of Russia’s population, has struggled to match.
—Olivier Kempf, Harpers Magazine, 24 Mar. 2026
The lawsuit also levels a series of accusations against the city of Los Angeles and its Department of Water and Power.
—City News Service, Daily News, 19 Feb. 2026
But a new documentary about the reality show levels some serious accusations against all those involved in the production.
—Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 16 Feb. 2026
Align with what actually levels you up, not what confirms bias, is rage bait or just gives a dopamine hit.
—Magi Helena, Dallas Morning News, 26 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for levels
Noun
-
Since being dismissed by the New York Rangers in 2023 and 2025, respectively, Gerard Gallant and Peter Laviolette have not returned to the NHL coaching ranks.—
Andrew Knoll,
Daily News,
25 May 2026
-
Russia’s regional governors are under severe pressure by Moscow to ensure the army’s ranks are padded to continue the war in the midst of high casualties.—
Daniel DePetris,
Mercury News,
23 May 2026
Verb
-
The wheat component gives the whiskey a plush, flavorful mid-palate that balances the alcohol.—
Joseph V Micallef,
Forbes.com,
23 May 2026
-
Proudly distinct from its southern neighbors, Northern California balances its cutting-edge tech terrain with equally impressive landscapes.—
Kristin Braswell,
Architectural Digest,
22 May 2026
Verb
-
The payoff is an antioxidant-rich anti-aging formula that plumps wrinkles, brightens skin, and smoothes texture while reducing inflammation.—
Tamim Alnuweiri,
InStyle,
23 May 2026
-
The rye component adds a bit of peppery, spicy snap, while the bourbon proportion smooths and sweetens the overall whiskey.—
Joseph V Micallef,
Forbes.com,
23 May 2026
Verb
-
Jim Lehrman, a Pleasanton resident and hydrogeologist, has advocated against the new wells, citing an online petition with over 500 signatures that aims to stop them at risk of further PFAS contamination to the region’s drinking water aquifer.—
Kyle Martin,
Mercury News,
27 May 2026
-
The app aims to address the struggle that emerging designers face, which is a massive, exhausting logistical challenge.—
Arthur Zaczkiewicz,
Footwear News,
27 May 2026
Verb
-
Springtown takes edge in 7-4A race, downs Decatur Springtown got the inside track on the District 7-4A championship after beating Decatur 4-2 in 8 innings on Monday night at Decatur High School.—
Darren Lauber,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
22 Apr. 2026
-
Greene downs it, throws the kid his jersey, smiles, and all is right with the world.—
Debby Wolfinsohn,
Entertainment Weekly,
8 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The latest filing demolishes the timeworn claim that DOGE was infiltrated into Social Security in order to responsibly ferret out fraud and overspending.—
Business Columnist,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Jan. 2026
-
If the city demolishes the building, the costs will be assessed to the property owner.—
Frederick Melo,
Twin Cities,
30 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
By embedding resale opportunities straight into the initial buying destination, Naia creates early indicators of long-term value, encourages a continuous cycle of wardrobe circulation and positions itself as the definitive global destination for independent fashion.—
Arthur Zaczkiewicz,
Footwear News,
27 May 2026
-
The Sequoia partner jumped 64 spots, propelled largely by early and concentrated positions in SpaceX and xAI – two of the companies most responsible for this year’s surge in private-market value concentration.—
TrueBridge Capital,
Forbes.com,
27 May 2026
Verb
-
Critics said the report essentially equates one stand of conservative Christianity to be representative of Christians overall, then construes policy disagreements to be persecution.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
1 May 2026
-
Lewkowitz pushed back against the traditional value proposition that equates value with the lowest possible price.—
Arthur Zaczkiewicz,
Footwear News,
27 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Levels.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/levels. Accessed 31 May. 2026.
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