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
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
Eric Yttri, The Conversation, 12 Feb. 2026
As finger-licking as the savory food is, the real headliner here is dessert.
—Skye Sherman, Southern Living, 6 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
Nevertheless, mice would still wait longer before licking to see whether a reward had been given in the uncertain scenario.
—Eric Yttri, The Conversation, 12 Feb. 2026
As finger-licking as the savory food is, the real headliner here is dessert.
—Skye Sherman, Southern Living, 6 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for licking
Recent Examples of Synonyms for licking
Noun
-
Deranque, a far-right activist, died of brain injuries last week from a beating in the French city of Lyon.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Feb. 2026
-
Deranque died last week of brain injuries after a beating in Lyon during a clash near a student meeting.—
Baltimore Sun staff,
Baltimore Sun,
22 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Dozens of flights between the East Coast and Los Angeles International Airport were cancelled Monday morning due to the blizzard that is pounding a large swath of the nation’s Eastern Seaboard.—
City News Service,
Daily News,
23 Feb. 2026
-
In the meantime, Sarandos has been pounding the drum of more Paramount pain to come.—
Dominic Patten,
Deadline,
20 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Tkachuk and the Americans won the country’s first Olympic gold in 46 years on Sunday, defeating Canada 2-1 on Jack Hughes’ overtime winner less than two minutes into overtime.—
Chris Kudialis,
Miami Herald,
23 Feb. 2026
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Davidson was not personally nominated at the BAFTAs, but the actor who played him in I Swear, Robert Aramayo, staged a shocking upset when he was announced as the winner in the Best Actor category, defeating the likes of Leonardo DiCaprio and Timothée Chalamet.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
22 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
That love was evident in abundance following the online racial abuse directed at Saka, Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho following the Euro 2020 final defeat by Italy.—
Aleks Klosok,
CNN Money,
26 Feb. 2026
-
The rest all won at least 40 games before their 20th defeat.—
Zack Cox,
Boston Herald,
26 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The 24-inch Timeless Hardside Spinner by Jessica Simpson is hiding in the clearance section for just $38.—
Julia Morlino,
Travel + Leisure,
27 Feb. 2026
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Earlier in 2024, customs agents found Dali hiding in a bathroom in a secure area of the Miami International Airport, prosecutors said.—
Aaron Katersky,
ABC News,
26 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The rehabilitation itself will be expensive, and its success will depend on wooing private investors and overcoming a half-decade of adverse publicity.—
Miami Herald Archives,
Miami Herald,
27 Feb. 2026
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His Ducks rallied to beat two-time defending conference champion Edmonton in their return from the Olympic break, overcoming a pair of two-goal deficits and another one-goal deficit during their frenetic four-goal third period.—
Greg Beacham,
Chicago Tribune,
26 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Leonard exited Friday’s loss against the Lakers with an ankle sprain.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Feb. 2026
-
Spurs were fortunate that West Ham United only drew with Bournemouth and Nottingham Forest conceded a stoppage-time goal in their loss to Liverpool.—
Jay Harris,
New York Times,
23 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Though both storms are similar — with a major storm system lingering over the region for over a day and whipping the region with merciless hurricane-level winds, driving inch after inch of wet snow — what made the 1978 storm so devastating was the apparent suddenness of its arrival.—
Doyle Rice,
USA Today,
24 Feb. 2026
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With winds whipping and snow piling up, members of the Terriers made their way down the sidewalk on Comm.—
Matt Schooley,
CBS News,
23 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Licking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/licking. Accessed 2 Mar. 2026.
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