1
as in blow
a hard strike with a part of the body or an instrument
gave the ball a solid lick with the bat
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in splash
a very small amount
the soup needs just a lick more of salt
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in damn
the smallest amount or part imaginable
you haven't done a lick of work all day
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in to hide
to strike repeatedly
your father will lick you good if he hears you using swear words
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in to master
to achieve a victory over
he's determined to do everything he can to lick the cancer
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 lick
Ars Technica, 25 Mar. 2025
Couldn’t find the country on a map, couldn’t speak a lick of Japanese.
—Bryan Washington, The New Yorker, 23 Mar. 2025
Glenn Garner, Deadline, 18 May 2025
As his 10-foot jumper licked the front of the rim, bounced up and hung as if filled with helium, there dangled Jeff Van Gundy’s job as the Knicks’ head coach, Patrick Ewing’s future and the path of the franchise.
—Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 16 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for lick
Noun
Stuff like the marching band doesn’t make a lick of sense.
—Ars Technica, 25 Mar. 2025
Couldn’t find the country on a map, couldn’t speak a lick of Japanese.
—Bryan Washington, The New Yorker, 23 Mar. 2025
Verb
In this case, Colin eagerly licks up the mud off Ray’s boots when told to, all within the first 20 minutes of the movie.
—Glenn Garner, Deadline, 18 May 2025
As his 10-foot jumper licked the front of the rim, bounced up and hung as if filled with helium, there dangled Jeff Van Gundy’s job as the Knicks’ head coach, Patrick Ewing’s future and the path of the franchise.
—Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 16 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for lick
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lick
Noun
-
The lawyers claim the measure signed into law by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis this month has already dealt significant blows to campaigns to expand Medicaid and legalize recreational marijuana in the state.—
Kate Payne,
Sun Sentinel,
22 May 2025
-
In the rear of an IndyCar vehicle is a safety device called an attenuator, designed to cushion the blow from a rear impact into the wall.—
Jeff Gluck,
New York Times,
22 May 2025
Noun
-
Walls were observed with food splash and debris throughout the kitchen area, especially in hard to reach areas, such as behind and below equipment.—
Evan Moore,
Charlotte Observer,
30 May 2025
-
Vulcan’s most high-visibility splash in the pickleball world was their 2024 agreement with the UPA to become the official ball of both the PPA and MLP, a contract reportedly worth more than $2M annually and which instantly created a market for their VPro flight ball.—
Todd Boss,
Forbes.com,
29 May 2025
Noun
-
And as far as luxurious treats go, well, the afternoon high tea there is not to be missed, and the theme changing monthly offers the strongest argument yet to treat oneself ad infinitum without giving a tinker’s damn about the current economy.—
Timothy DePeugh,
Charlotte Observer,
1 May 2025
-
Since the death of Tom Petty meant an end to his primary job in 2017, Tench has still been visible in the background as a member of the house band in practically any tribute show that’s worth a damn.—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
28 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
At 19, Johnson married his wife Daphne and initially, was able to hide his drug use from her, the Johnson's clemency petition said.—
Greta Cross,
USA Today,
22 May 2025
-
Enhanced measurement capabilities: Amazon continues investing in Amazon Marketing Cloud with new UI templates and simplified queries, suggesting a commitment to transparency rather than hiding attribution.—
Kiri Masters,
Forbes.com,
21 May 2025
Verb
-
Topics include earning passive income online, mastering communication and public speaking skills, acing your job interview, and practical strategies to grow your wealth.—
Jennifer Liu,
CNBC,
21 May 2025
-
Nike has mastered this by creating compelling narratives around athletes’ journeys.—
Erik Huberman,
Rolling Stone,
21 May 2025
Noun
-
Not finishing the story is a real slap in the face to all the loyal fans who did stick around.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
23 May 2025
-
During the final House vote, Republican lawmakers approached the speaker with congratulatory handshakes and back slaps.—
John Parkinson,
ABC News,
22 May 2025
Noun
-
And yet, the poem’s haunting finale carried a shred of hope.—
Michael Silver,
New York Times,
22 May 2025
-
Cover and cook on LOW for 6 hours or HIGH for about 3 1/2 hours until meat shreds easily.—
Catherine Jessee,
Southern Living,
6 May 2025
Noun
-
The most memorable offerings didn’t care a whit about product-testing strategies.—
Charles McNulty,
Los Angeles Times,
1 May 2025
-
Vie comes on the heels of Doja’s 2023 album Scarlet, whit hit No. 4 on the Billboard 200.—
Mackenzie Cummings-Grady,
Billboard,
30 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Lick.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lick. Accessed 5 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share