as in beating
failure to win a contest
our team took a licking last night, but we'll get them next time
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in pounding
to strike repeatedly
your father will lick you good if he hears you using swear words
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in defeating
to achieve a victory over
he's determined to do everything he can to lick the cancer
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of licking
Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 11 Oct. 2025
It's built according to MIL-STD 810H standards to take a licking.
—PC Magazine, 9 Oct. 2025
Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 16 Feb. 2026
Even in the trailer, scenes of slapping dough, Robbie and Elordi kissing in the rain and Elordi licking a wall were telltale signs that this would be a heightened version of the actual romance depicted in the book.
—Ellise Shafer, Variety, 13 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for licking
Noun
Predictably, Korda took a licking.
—Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 11 Oct. 2025
It's built according to MIL-STD 810H standards to take a licking.
—PC Magazine, 9 Oct. 2025
Verb
Spit Heathcliff spends a lot of time straight-up licking Cathy’s face in this movie.
—Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 16 Feb. 2026
Even in the trailer, scenes of slapping dough, Robbie and Elordi kissing in the rain and Elordi licking a wall were telltale signs that this would be a heightened version of the actual romance depicted in the book.
—Ellise Shafer, Variety, 13 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for licking
Recent Examples of Synonyms for licking
Noun
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Jake Webster hit a buzzer-beating layup at the end of the stanza, as the Shamrocks took a 52-46 advantage into the final frame.—
Brendan Connelly,
Boston Herald,
16 Mar. 2026
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Jurors convicted a man of child abuse and torture in the October 2022 beating of his girlfriend’s 2-year-old daughter, the Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office said.—
Darrell Smith,
Sacbee.com,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Surprise, surprise, the drums started pounding for the SOB Act shortly after (though various legislative attempts have floated since Proposition 12 was passed) backed by a Midwestern congresswoman from a Big Pork state.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Mar. 2026
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The team became the spectacle of Havana, with Maduro’s Gran Stadium filling with the sound of pounding drums and a conga line snaking through the crowd, as baseball felt more like a festival than a game.—
Tyler Carmona,
Miami Herald,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
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His Jayhawks went 1-1 at the Big 12 tournament, defeating TCU 78-73 on Thursday before getting clobbered by Houston 69-47 in Friday’s semifinals.—
Gary Bedore,
Kansas City Star,
16 Mar. 2026
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When Alejandro Bran struck a volley from 24 yards out last week at BMO Stadium, the Costa Rican delivered a lightning strike that LD Alajuelense needed in order to have a chance of defeating the Los Angeles Football Club.—
Josh Gross,
Daily News,
16 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Less than a month ago, the Lakers squandered double-digit leads against the Phoenix Suns and Orlando Magic in down-to-the-wire defeats.—
Benjamin Royer,
Oc Register,
19 Mar. 2026
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Ghalibaf accused Israel of attacking infrastructure to conceal battlefield defeats in an X post.—
DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE STAFF FROM WIRE REPORTS,
Arkansas Online,
19 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The lender is also alleging the whiskey company is hiding a receipt of a $20 million loan, in part, from rapper and businessman Jay-Z.—
Stephanie Kuzydym,
Louisville Courier Journal,
19 Mar. 2026
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Surveillance video later showed Coogler hiding in a nearby backyard shortly after the shooting.—
Richard Ramos,
CBS News,
19 Mar. 2026
Verb
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This prototype may offer a sustainable solution for long-term exploration on Earth and other planets by overcoming the need for batteries.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
20 Mar. 2026
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Founded by a young mother overcoming thyroid cancer, the brand was created to inspire hope, strength and faith during life’s hardest seasons.—
Tory Johnson,
ABC News,
19 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Kawhi Leonard, arguably the NBA’s best player over the past three months, sprained his left ankle in the fourth quarter of Saturday night’s loss to the Sacramento Kings.—
Janis Carr,
Oc Register,
16 Mar. 2026
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The neutral-court loss to a middling Baylor team.—
Tom Krasovic,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The high waist bunched a little when seated, but it was hardly cause for breaking focus when attempting an inversion (the whipping wind, however, was another story).—
Talia Abbas,
Vogue,
11 Mar. 2026
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Taylor also weighed in on keeping her cool on stage when things go wrong, such as embracing her wig flying off and whipping it around her head, the proper form for double-dutching and having patience in Hollywood.—
Gil Kaufman,
Billboard,
26 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Licking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/licking. Accessed 22 Mar. 2026.
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