as in defeats
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
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lickings
Noun
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At 31, Moises concludes his UFC tenure with an 8-8 record over 16 fights, having faced recent struggles with three losses in his last four outings, including consecutive defeats.—
Brian Mazique,
Forbes.com,
20 June 2026 -
The United States almost certainly would have wound up fighting the sort of casualty-heavy counterinsurgency campaign that has led it to costly defeats elsewhere.—
Thomas Wright,
The Atlantic,
19 June 2026
Noun
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According to prosecutors, who cited testimony and evidence at McCue's trial, the children allegedly suffered severe beatings and were forced to wear shock collars and stand naked on cinder blocks for hours or sometimes days at a time.—
Christine Pelisek,
PEOPLE,
16 June 2026
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Others targeted with beatings and forms of public shaming — including children — were accused of theft, drug trafficking or illegally selling tobacco.—
Sam Metz,
Los Angeles Times,
9 June 2026
Noun
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That stint came to an end in April, though, following friendly losses to Egypt and Serbia.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
16 June 2026
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That has gotten him through all of the losses.—
Spencer Nusbaum,
New York Times,
16 June 2026
Noun
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There was physical violence as well — whippings, beatings, even bricks thrown.—
Pamela Chelin,
Los Angeles Times,
7 May 2026
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Michael’s tendency to speak up earned him frequent whippings with his father’s belt.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
21 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Moscow’s efforts to recruit students for its own expert drone units have been mired in distrust and setbacks, according to Stepanenko, after Russia’s Ministry of Defense committed some drone operators to frontline ground assaults.—
Lauren Kent,
CNN Money,
14 June 2026
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That aside, there has been precious little obvious progress and some notable setbacks.—
Anand Menon,
Time,
13 June 2026
Noun
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How to Propagate Plant Trimmings Learning how to propagate plant trimmings is an essential skill for plant enthusiasts.—
Melissa Epifano,
The Spruce,
8 June 2026
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For ultimate privacy with all the Les Airelles trimmings, the hotel has brought three impossibly luxe chalets into the fold, each swallowing up to 15 guests for weeks of high-altitude hedonism.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
4 June 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Lickings.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lickings. Accessed 22 Jun. 2026.
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