Synonyms of levy

levy 1 of 2

noun

ˈle-vē 

as in tax

a charge usually of money collected by the government from people or businesses for public use

the legislators approved a new levy on imported cattle to help protect American ranchers

Synonyms & Similar Words

• tax
• tariff
• imposition
• impost
• duty
• excise
• assessment
• surtax
• income tax
• direct tax
• property tax
• supertax
• personal tax
• capitation
• poll tax
• tribute
• withholding tax
• sales tax
• single tax
• surcharge
• value-added tax
• toll
• inheritance tax
• hidden tax
• estate tax
• death tax
• sin tax
• flat tax
• custom(s)
• proportional tax

levy

2 of 2

verb

1

as in to draft

to pick especially for required military service

unprepared for war, the government was forced to levy young citizens on a scale that was unprecedented in its history

Synonyms & Similar Words

• draft
• recruit
• enlist
• conscript
• conscribe
• enroll
• volunteer
• call up
• impress
• sign up
• press

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• discharge
• muster out

2

as in to impose

to establish or apply as a charge or penalty

the baseball commissioner levied a fine against every player involved in the fracas

Synonyms & Similar Words

• impose
• charge
• fine
• assess
• put
• tax
• exact
• lay
• excise
• penalize
• dock
• force
• extort
• compel
• milk
• inflict
• coerce
• mulct
• skin
• shake down
• wreak
• gouge
• bleed
• wrest
• squeeze
• wring
• fleece
• relay
• reimpose
• reapply
• set

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• remit
• diminish
• lessen
• abate
• release
• forgive
• ignore
• excuse
• disregard
• condone
• pardon
• gloss (over)
• gloze (over)

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of levy

Noun

But the authority has enough reserves to make it into the early 2030s, the tax is more than needed and the levy, while increasing annually with inflation, has no expiration date. —Mercury News & East Bay Times Editorial Boards, Mercury News, 1 June 2026

The tax, which will be on the ballot in November, would charge around 200 California billionaires a one-time 5% levy on their total wealth, with proponents targeting additional revenues worth $100 billion spread out over five years. —Tristan Bove, Fortune, 27 May 2026

Verb

Under those new rules, California had to either levy a higher tax on commercial plans or end the taxes on the state plans and lose yet more federal funding. —Sacbee.com, 11 June 2026

However, the White House has taken steps to levy tariffs — taxes on imports — using alternate legal mechanisms. —Greg Iacurci, CNBC, 10 June 2026