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
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 levels
Zach Wichter,
USA Today,
25 June 2026
Analysts have warned that any form of Iranian control could have long-term effects on oil flows through the Strait, as transits may not fully recover to pre-war levels if Tehran retains strategic control of the waterway.
—
Anniek Bao,
CNBC,
25 June 2026
With prices back at pre-war levels, the market is certainly anticipating that US inventory levels won’t present a serious problem.
—
David Goldman,
CNN Money,
25 June 2026
Walmart, Uber Technologies, Lucid, Lumileds, and Keywords Studios have all disclosed decisions to cut staffing levels in the Bay Area, separate WARN notices with the Employment Development Department show.
—
George Avalos,
Mercury News,
25 June 2026
Working with other experts in the field, the team examined why efficiency gains in organic solar cells begin to slow at higher performance levels.
—
Georgina Jedikovska,
Interesting Engineering,
24 June 2026
At full throttle, interior sound levels sit at just 65 decibels—about the same as a normal conversation.
—
Rachel Cormack,
Robb Report,
24 June 2026
Cathinone, considered to be the principal active stimulant, is structurally similar to d-amphetamine and at its highest levels when khat is harvested.
—
Rosalio Ahumada,
Sacbee.com,
18 June 2026
Eurocamp gives players a chance to compete against different styles, different levels of physicality and prospects from all over the world.
—
Gary Bedore,
Kansas City Star,
18 June 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
Why the Special Olympics airlift exists Travel can be stressful for anybody, but for athletes on their way to competition who also have special accessibility needs, there are additional levels of complication.
—
Zach Wichter,
USA Today,
25 June 2026
Analysts have warned that any form of Iranian control could have long-term effects on oil flows through the Strait, as transits may not fully recover to pre-war levels if Tehran retains strategic control of the waterway.
—
Anniek Bao,
CNBC,
25 June 2026
With prices back at pre-war levels, the market is certainly anticipating that US inventory levels won’t present a serious problem.
—
David Goldman,
CNN Money,
25 June 2026
Walmart, Uber Technologies, Lucid, Lumileds, and Keywords Studios have all disclosed decisions to cut staffing levels in the Bay Area, separate WARN notices with the Employment Development Department show.
—
George Avalos,
Mercury News,
25 June 2026
Working with other experts in the field, the team examined why efficiency gains in organic solar cells begin to slow at higher performance levels.
—
Georgina Jedikovska,
Interesting Engineering,
24 June 2026
At full throttle, interior sound levels sit at just 65 decibels—about the same as a normal conversation.
—
Rachel Cormack,
Robb Report,
24 June 2026
Cathinone, considered to be the principal active stimulant, is structurally similar to d-amphetamine and at its highest levels when khat is harvested.
—
Rosalio Ahumada,
Sacbee.com,
18 June 2026
Eurocamp gives players a chance to compete against different styles, different levels of physicality and prospects from all over the world.
—
Gary Bedore,
Kansas City Star,
18 June 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
-
To survive and grow, more wealth management firms are chasing the surging ranks of the extremely wealthy and their more profitable accounts.
-
An early furor over accepting valuable gifts, including designer spectacles and Taylor Swift concert tickets, was followed by a series of policy U-turns, especially clumsy attempts to cut welfare spending that stirred anger in Labour ranks.
Verb
-
The Trefis High Quality (HQ) Portfolio assesses the complete picture of quality across thousands of stocks, not just a single factor, retains the 30 strongest selections, and re-balances them with careful discipline.
-
Not even the entrepreneur who balances film studios, museums, real estate projects, and media ventures.
Verb
-
Salicylic acid works deep within pores to tackle buildup, while lactic acid smooths rough texture and refines skin’s surface, leaving skin looking clearer and feeling smoother in just a few swipes.
-
By quenching dryness, the formula delivers instantly glowy skin and smooths the appearance of fine lines (which are more prominent when skin is dehydrated).
Verb
-
That's significant because the nonprofit aims to reduce the stigma of mental health disorders, especially among Asian American families.
-
As Europe seeks to expand its position in advanced semiconductor technologies, the new partnership aims to create a production environment capable of supporting both startups and established companies working on photonic chip innovations.
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.
-
Greene downs it, throws the kid his jersey, smiles, and all is right with the world.
Verb
-
An $8,000 Ryvid Anthem or a $10,000 Maeving RM1S will deliver broadly similar urban usability, while the $12,500 Zero FXE absolutely demolishes it on power-per-dollar.
-
The latest filing demolishes the timeworn claim that DOGE was infiltrated into Social Security in order to responsibly ferret out fraud and overspending.
Noun
-
Multiple companies have slashed tech worker positions in the Bay Area, cutbacks that portend fresh waves of layoffs for the region’s technology sector, according to official filings with the state’s labor agency.
-
Her previous roles include principal and district leadership positions in Woodland Joint Unified and Sacramento City Unified school districts.
Verb
-
Five Hundred Years of Religion in America means this is not just another history going back to 1776, and this is not a book that equates religion with Christianity.
-
The webpage equates undocumented immigrants with extraterrestrials.
Cite this Entry
“Levels.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/levels. Accessed 29 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
