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

Exceeding that level by 30 per cent or less will incur a fine, or levy, though not until the 2027-28 season, as no levies will be applied for 2026-27 breaches. — Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2026

York expects tariff revenues to rise back into the positive in a matter of months, but warned the uncertainty surrounding the existing levies remain, with companies suing the administration to remove Section 301 tariffs. — Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 21 Aug. 2026

Verb

This November, California voters will decide on Proposition 40, which would levy a one-time tax of up to 5% on the state's roughly 200 billionaires, with 90% of the money going to health care. — Teresa Ghilarducci, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2026

The league levied $500,000 fines against both the Dallas Cowboys and New Orleans Saints on Thursday, one day after the teams were involved in a serious brawl. — Armando Salguero Outkick, FOXNews.com, 20 Aug. 2026