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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Wolves were still fighting for survival long after relegation appeared an inevitability but three defeats, without scoring a goal, in their past three games suggest Sunderland could enjoy themselves at Molineux on Saturday.—
Oliver Kay,
New York Times,
1 May 2026 -
Lula is yet to make public comments about his defeats in Congress.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
30 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The offseason of Mark Pope's discontent soldiers on, and the beatings will continue until talent acquisition improves.—
Austin Perry OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
6 May 2026
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Incidents, many caught on video, include shootings, beatings, arson, land destruction, livestock theft and intimidation.—
Molly Hunter,
NBC news,
2 May 2026
Noun
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America’s chronic inability to get enough sleep comes with a real cost attached, one that researchers have put in the hundreds of billions of dollars in annual economic losses.—
Tristan Bove,
Fortune,
4 May 2026
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Due to impacts from federal government cuts to Medi-Cal, the Board of Supervisors put a measure on the June 2 ballot, a half-cent sales tax to raise about $1 billion to stop-gap financial losses and keep hospitals and clinics functioning.—
Steve Scauzillo,
Daily News,
4 May 2026
Noun
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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
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In September, a photo showing an enslaved man's scarred back from whippings was removed from a national monument in Georgia.—
Aida Mogos,
CBS News,
24 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Farming has always been a challenging endeavor, one that operates at the whim of external forces but with little margin for setbacks.—
The Virginian Pilot And Daily Press Editorial Board,
The Orlando Sentinel,
3 May 2026
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Building codes also pose challenges that can impact sinks and setbacks for fire safety for ovens.—
John W. Bateman,
Chicago Tribune,
3 May 2026
Noun
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People who compost their food scraps and yard trimmings can contribute to reducing landfill methane emissions; improving soil health; and sequestering carbon, according to the EPA.—
Julia Jacobo,
ABC News,
22 Apr. 2026
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Organized by the curatorial fellow Yifu Liu, the show has trimmings in just about every frame.—
Emilia Petrarca,
New Yorker,
13 Apr. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Lickings.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lickings. Accessed 7 May. 2026.
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