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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of licking
Essence, 11 Sep. 2025
Some Whistle users still aren’t sold on the switch, though, because Tractive devices don’t have all the features that Whistle’s product line has, including the Health 2.0 Smart Device’s efforts to track pets’ licking, scratching, eating, drinking, and sleeping.
—Scharon Harding, ArsTechnica, 29 July 2025
Damon Wise, Deadline, 13 Sep. 2025
That could look like gliding your fingers down them, kissing, licking, or gently biting those areas.
—Essence, 11 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for licking
Noun
Some people enjoy gentle licking or kissing here, while others respond to massage-like pressure.
—Essence, 11 Sep. 2025
Some Whistle users still aren’t sold on the switch, though, because Tractive devices don’t have all the features that Whistle’s product line has, including the Health 2.0 Smart Device’s efforts to track pets’ licking, scratching, eating, drinking, and sleeping.
—Scharon Harding, ArsTechnica, 29 July 2025
Verb
Which is what guides her, and her two siblings, to storm the event and take its guests hostage — while Tyler is in the bathroom, licking his wounds after his mic drop moment goes horribly viral.
—Damon Wise, Deadline, 13 Sep. 2025
That could look like gliding your fingers down them, kissing, licking, or gently biting those areas.
—Essence, 11 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for licking
Recent Examples of Synonyms for licking
Noun
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The killing involved a lengthy beating and torture.—
Evan Mealins,
Nashville Tennessean,
3 Oct. 2025
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And in a few moments the room is filled with the faint whooshing sound of a small heart beating.—
Katia Riddle,
NPR,
2 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Layered with live jazz and pounding percussion from experimental duo Robin Schulkowsky and Joey Baron, the result gave Hedda an extra pulse.—
Scott Roxborough,
HollywoodReporter,
2 Oct. 2025
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My heart was pounding in my chest and in my ears.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
29 Sep. 2025
Verb
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At that point, the Cowboys were well on their way to their second win of the season, defeating the New York Jets 37-22.—
Jon Machota,
New York Times,
6 Oct. 2025
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After defeating Colorado 35-21 on Saturday, TCU sits at 4-1 and 1-1 in the conference two games into its Big 12 slate.—
Steven Johnson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
6 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Liverpool’s defeat at Galatasaray saw their title chances drop from 20 to 15 per cent, with their top-eight chances falling to 59 per cent too (from 84).—
Anantaajith Raghuraman,
New York Times,
2 Oct. 2025
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The drop in the currency has been driven in part by concerns over Milei’s political support ahead of key midterm elections later this month following a crushing defeat in a local vote in Buenos Aires province in early September.—
Nicolle Yapur,
Fortune,
2 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Johnson sat in the makeup chair for two hours undergoing a transformation process that resulted in the cauliflower ears, a specific browbone piece and other prosthetics, plus hiding his tattoos.—
Jazz Tangcay,
Variety,
4 Oct. 2025
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Keep scrolling to shop the best deals on plush bedding and area rugs hiding in Amazon’s home department.—
Isabel Garcia,
PEOPLE,
4 Oct. 2025
Verb
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For Woodruff, The Green Kitchen was born out of her own healing journey after overcoming the Epstein-Barr virus and heavy metal toxicity through mindful eating and nutrient-dense foods.—
Wyles Daniel,
AZCentral.com,
2 Oct. 2025
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To help engineers manage these thoughts, IEEE Women in Engineering held a webinar on building confidence and overcoming anxiety.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
2 Oct. 2025
Noun
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According to Hanke, Milei’s big loss in the Buenos Aires contest and the acceleration in the peso’s decline confirmed the Money Doctor’s warning that the inevitable lure for mismanaging the peso was Milei’s Achilles’ heel.—
Shawn Tully,
Fortune,
8 Oct. 2025
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Completely outplayed by the Brewers thus far in a National League Division Series, the Cubs are teetering on the brink of elimination after Monday night’s 7-3 loss at American Family Field.—
Patrick Mooney,
New York Times,
7 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The wind was whipping this past week at McGrath Stadium, mist in the air.—
Brendan Connelly,
Boston Herald,
29 Sep. 2025
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Video from Camiguin Island, posted by the Philippines Department of the Interior and Local Government, showed fierce winds and ocean water whipping past houses onto a residential street.—
Helen Regan,
CNN Money,
23 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Licking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/licking. Accessed 10 Oct. 2025.
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