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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of licking
Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Apr. 2025
By listening to these cues, including tail wagging and lip licking, humans can deepen their relationships with their canine companions.
—Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 19 Apr. 2025
Dan Perry, Newsweek, 19 Mar. 2025
Erotica assumes shared association, touching, stroking, licking, looking, playing, exposing.
—Lisa Wong MacAbasco, Vogue, 17 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for licking
Noun
Her dog had multiple litters before and knew licking helped.
—Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Apr. 2025
By listening to these cues, including tail wagging and lip licking, humans can deepen their relationships with their canine companions.
—Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 19 Apr. 2025
Verb
Despite her best efforts, 4-year-old Dewey eventually succeeded in wriggling his way over to the sleeping man, enthusiastically licking him awake.
—Dan Perry, Newsweek, 19 Mar. 2025
Erotica assumes shared association, touching, stroking, licking, looking, playing, exposing.
—Lisa Wong MacAbasco, Vogue, 17 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for licking
Recent Examples of Synonyms for licking
Noun
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Weger was convicted and sentenced to life in prison for the fatal beating of Lillian Oetting, 50, in March 1960 at the scenic park near Utica.—
Christy Gutowski,
Chicago Tribune,
24 June 2025
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But the movie’s focus isn’t so much the zeitgeist that yields these public beatings, but rather, the strange and amusing way that a young woman present in the crowd, Maitri (Singh), uses this violence to her advantage in a moment of snap judgement.—
Siddhant Adlakha,
Variety,
17 June 2025
Verb
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But the unhappy ending is especially head-pounding for Saxon Ratliff (Patrick Schwarzenegger).—
Bryan Alexander,
USA TODAY,
24 Mar. 2025
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Queen finished with a team-best 17 points, but Maryland frequently settled for outside jumpers instead of pounding the ball inside to Queen and Julian Reese.—
Lindsay Schnell,
The Athletic,
24 Mar. 2025
Noun
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His only loss prior to his UFC 311 setback to Makhachev was a March 2022 unanimous decision defeat to former UFC lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos in a 160-pound catchweight battle.—
Trent Reinsmith,
Forbes.com,
23 June 2025
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In 1916, as First Lord of the Admiralty, Winston Churchill led the Entente powers of the First World War in a crushing defeat on Turkey’s Gallipoli Peninsula at the hands of the Ottoman Empire.—
David Remnick,
New Yorker,
22 June 2025
Verb
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With their teeth bared in a frozen rictus grin, this couple appears to be hiding a darkness which we are left only to guess at.—
Naomi Fry,
The New Yorker,
15 Mar. 2025
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My safety came down to something as simple as hiding my name.—
Ismat Ara,
TIME,
15 Mar. 2025
Noun
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The push underscores how the president remains fixated on his loss to former President Biden in 2020, even after mounting a political comeback last year to win a second term.—
Cate Martel,
The Hill,
20 June 2025
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Even a moderate amount of weight loss can make a difference.—
Wendy Wisner,
Health,
20 June 2025
Verb
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Elle was also seen whipping her hands in a circle to the music during the awards ceremony.—
Stephanie Wenger,
People.com,
6 Jan. 2025
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This instant camera captures little moments and big occasions on film, which feels a little more special than whipping out an iPhone.—
Malia Griggs,
Glamour,
2 Jan. 2025
Verb
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The unit uses tools that were once the preserve of the world’s top mastering houses and is inspired by the artistry of mastering engineers.—
Mark Sparrow,
Forbes,
25 Mar. 2025
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From entry-level careers to the C-suite, mastering soft skills opens up leadership opportunities.—
Cheryl Robinson,
Forbes,
24 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Buffett has never given a definitive answer regarding the trimming of Apple.—
Bill Stone,
Forbes.com,
15 June 2025
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Other times, he was accused of mixing lawn trimmings in with marijuana that was planted.—
Julia Marnin,
Sacbee.com,
13 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Licking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/licking. Accessed 30 Jun. 2025.
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