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 administration may be open to adding a blanket tariff like the steel and aluminum levies to bikes, especially now that the Supreme Court has struck down many of its other import taxes. —Scott Horsley, NPR, 29 Mar. 2026

Mark Boyko, Denver The Lincoln Institute of Land Policy provides resources to understand property taxes, including how to reduce the mill levy when property valuations go up. —Dp Opinion, Denver Post, 28 Mar. 2026

Verb

The legal team’s withdrawal from the case marks the latest update in the tangled knot of litigation that has ensnared the city and Carollo for years, stemming from the same general allegations levied by Little Havana businessmen Bill Fuller and Martin Pinilla. —Tess Riski april 14, Miami Herald, 14 Apr. 2026

No income tax is levied in eight states — Alaska, Florida, New Hampshire, Nevada, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas and Wyoming. —ABC News, 12 Apr. 2026