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
Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 13 Oct. 2025
And the Trojans’ defense that came in licking its wounds after allowing 502 yards in a last-gasp loss at Illinois two weeks ago?
—Mirjam Swanson, Oc Register, 12 Oct. 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
The sugars in the glaze coat the chicken and carrots to create a finger-licking delicious dinner.
—Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 13 Oct. 2025
And the Trojans’ defense that came in licking its wounds after allowing 502 yards in a last-gasp loss at Illinois two weeks ago?
—Mirjam Swanson, Oc Register, 12 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for licking
Recent Examples of Synonyms for licking
Noun
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But experiences similar to what Khaled shared—including extended kneeling, beatings, attacks by military dogs, and a lack of medical care—have been reported by human-rights groups, the United Nations, and news organizations.—
Mosab Abu Toha,
New Yorker,
24 Oct. 2025
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They’re designed to stabilize and regulate the heart’s beating, not to inform others of the heart’s catastrophic arrest.—
Joy Williams,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The Buffalo Bills got back on track Sunday by pounding the Carolina Panthers 40-9 and ending a two-game losing streak.—
Pete Grathoff,
Kansas City Star,
28 Oct. 2025
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The storm is already pounding Jamaica, and NHC meteorologists urge residents to shelter in place.—
Anna Skinner,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Polls show the race tightening as Mamdani looks to hold his lead after defeating Cuomo in a stunning upset in the June primary.—
Eduardo Cuevas,
USA Today,
3 Nov. 2025
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His team fell one win — one run — short of defeating baseball’s behemoth in the World Series.—
Mitch Bannon,
New York Times,
2 Nov. 2025
Noun
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The two permanent managers fired during their debut season over recent years — Benitez in January 2016 and Julen Lopetegui in October 2018 — both suffered big defeats in their first games against Barcelona.—
Dermot Corrigan,
New York Times,
31 Oct. 2025
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Last month, Bolsonaro was sentenced to 27 years in prison for attempting a coup to stay in power following his 2022 election defeat.—
NPR,
NPR,
30 Oct. 2025
Verb
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But soon, an intruder introduces both suspicion and hope for connection, as loneliness battles with the fear that something considerably larger than a virus is hiding in the dark.—
Dennis Perkins,
Entertainment Weekly,
31 Oct. 2025
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Some are found lurking in remote corners of the world, while others have been hiding right under our noses.—
Real-Time News team,
Miami Herald,
31 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Key challenges to commercialization include creating a material that is both safe and highly conductive and overcoming the high costs of mass production.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
2 Nov. 2025
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Castellani and Muritiba spoke about how the United States can learn from Brazil and their country’s history of overcoming fascism.—
Andrew McGowan,
Variety,
29 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The Toronto Blue Jays bounced back from a tough Game 3 loss to even the World Series at two games apiece following a 6-2 Game 4 victory against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday.—
Wayne Sterling,
CNN Money,
29 Oct. 2025
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The situation could result in potential discipline for the Ravens, ranging from fines or loss of draft picks to possible suspensions if the NFL determines a serious violation occurred.—
Cole Sullivan,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Strong, whipping winds are expected to continue across Jamaica throughout the night.—
Matt Nighswander,
NBC news,
29 Oct. 2025
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The photo of Chastain whipping off her jersey, shouting in triumph, her sinewy arms flexed, was immediately historic.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
27 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Licking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/licking. Accessed 5 Nov. 2025.
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