1
as in blows
a hard strike with a part of the body or an instrument
gave the ball a solid lick with the bat
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in splashes
a very small amount
the soup needs just a lick more of salt
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in damns
the smallest amount or part imaginable
you haven't done a lick of work all day
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in pounds
to strike repeatedly
your father will lick you good if he hears you using swear words
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in masters
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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show current usage.
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Recent Examples of licks
Andre Gee, Rolling Stone, 23 Oct. 2025
On the title track, a handful of bass licks grow outward into a waiting drum beat.
—Hanif Abdurraqib, New Yorker, 18 Oct. 2025
Kershaw was on the winning end more often than not, but that didn’t mean the Giants didn’t also get in their licks.
—Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 20 Sep. 2025
From bouncy dancehall riddims and hip-hop production inflections to tender country and western guitar licks, Treasure Self Love distills Iké’s wide range of childhood music into a succinct 11-track study of achieving wholeness by unflinchingly examining the darkest parts of your past.
—Kyle Denis, Billboard, 18 Sep. 2025
TikTok @evelynmmartin The dog jumps onto the grassy area, shakes his head with his whole body moving in excitement, and jumps up to greet Martin, showering her with licks and nuzzles before spinning excitedly in a circle.
—Rachael O'Connor, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Sep. 2025
Hopefully that was worth it — because quarterback Tua Tagovailoa took his fair share of licks in the process.
—Miami Herald, 24 Aug. 2025
For that closing number, bassist Andy Bishop leaped down into the pit, while keyboardist Sevans Henderson and guitarists Zach Rishel and Drew Nix rocked out at full throttle, all of them letting their licks do most of the showboating.
—Piet Levy, jsonline.com, 3 Aug. 2025
Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Sep. 2025
When asked the question, the owl takes the lollipop and licks it three times before chomping down on its hard shell exterior and handing the stick back to the child.
—Moná Thomas, People.com, 8 Sep. 2025
The pair is seen crawling through a wildflower field, dancing, and jumping, but also hollering at each other, brandishing knives, and at some point, Lawrence licks a window with zeal.
—Mankaprr Conteh, Rolling Stone, 5 Sep. 2025
Hart opted to rap his part, which delighted his ecstatic band-members, the reggae-rhythm providing a steady groove and allowing for Mayer and Anastasio to trade licks back-and-forth.
—Shirley Halperin, HollywoodReporter, 5 Aug. 2025
Nashville's own Grace Bowers sat in with Molly Tuttle, Vince Gill and Peter Frampton trading licks from songs written long before the 18-year-old was born.
—Melonee Hurt, Nashville Tennessean, 14 Apr. 2025
Noun
While Kendrick and Drake were putting their pens to their limits, Metro fired up some software and got his licks in.
—Andre Gee, Rolling Stone, 23 Oct. 2025
On the title track, a handful of bass licks grow outward into a waiting drum beat.
—Hanif Abdurraqib, New Yorker, 18 Oct. 2025
Kershaw was on the winning end more often than not, but that didn’t mean the Giants didn’t also get in their licks.
—Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 20 Sep. 2025
From bouncy dancehall riddims and hip-hop production inflections to tender country and western guitar licks, Treasure Self Love distills Iké’s wide range of childhood music into a succinct 11-track study of achieving wholeness by unflinchingly examining the darkest parts of your past.
—Kyle Denis, Billboard, 18 Sep. 2025
TikTok @evelynmmartin The dog jumps onto the grassy area, shakes his head with his whole body moving in excitement, and jumps up to greet Martin, showering her with licks and nuzzles before spinning excitedly in a circle.
—Rachael O'Connor, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Sep. 2025
Hopefully that was worth it — because quarterback Tua Tagovailoa took his fair share of licks in the process.
—Miami Herald, 24 Aug. 2025
For that closing number, bassist Andy Bishop leaped down into the pit, while keyboardist Sevans Henderson and guitarists Zach Rishel and Drew Nix rocked out at full throttle, all of them letting their licks do most of the showboating.
—Piet Levy, jsonline.com, 3 Aug. 2025
Verb
Posted to the account @maisythemarshmallow on September 19, the video shows the dog, named Maisy, lying calmly as the cat snuggles up and licks her face.
—Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Sep. 2025
When asked the question, the owl takes the lollipop and licks it three times before chomping down on its hard shell exterior and handing the stick back to the child.
—Moná Thomas, People.com, 8 Sep. 2025
The pair is seen crawling through a wildflower field, dancing, and jumping, but also hollering at each other, brandishing knives, and at some point, Lawrence licks a window with zeal.
—Mankaprr Conteh, Rolling Stone, 5 Sep. 2025
Hart opted to rap his part, which delighted his ecstatic band-members, the reggae-rhythm providing a steady groove and allowing for Mayer and Anastasio to trade licks back-and-forth.
—Shirley Halperin, HollywoodReporter, 5 Aug. 2025
Nashville's own Grace Bowers sat in with Molly Tuttle, Vince Gill and Peter Frampton trading licks from songs written long before the 18-year-old was born.
—Melonee Hurt, Nashville Tennessean, 14 Apr. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for licks
Noun
-
Richard Westenberger, executive vice president and chief financial officer at Carter’s, said tariffs are delivering blows to the business, which has caused the company to hike its prices and decrease its discounting efforts.—
Meghan Hall,
Sourcing Journal,
29 Oct. 2025
-
In this era of advanced statistics and probabilities and over-analysis of every nuance on every shift of a hockey game, the only numbers that really matter when the final horn blows are posted on the scoreboard.—
Jess Myers,
Twin Cities,
27 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
That’s all great, but the Guardians aren’t ones to make free-agent splashes, and that’s especially the case with a potential work stoppage clouding everything after the 2026 season.—
Zack Meisel,
New York Times,
3 Nov. 2025
-
But just like those old Higdon’s the new model splashes and bobs aggressively.—
Alex Robinson,
Outdoor Life,
29 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
This storied sandwich is served each year at the Masters Tournament in Augusta, Georgia; and many have long tried to replicate the recipe, which seemingly masters the perfect ratio of ingredients for classic egg salad.—
Kaitlyn Yarborough,
Southern Living,
23 Aug. 2025
-
Focus is difficult and hardly anyone masters the skill.—
Jodie Cook,
Forbes.com,
18 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Credit card swipes, corporate calendar items, and photos snapped on a phone of receipts can all go straight into AI analysis.—
Eric Rosenbaum,
CNBC,
30 Oct. 2025
-
Some of the picks on this list even have color-correcting powers built right into the concealer, giving you multiple benefits in a few swipes.—
Christa Joanna Lee,
Allure,
29 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Eventually, Ginger's playful touches turn to rowdy smacks on Jesse's behind.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
31 Oct. 2025
-
The result is a collection combining classicism, surrealism and pop touches, and aimed at presenting the company’s products under a different light — not just as tools at a service of fashion brands but via objects that can have a say and stand in a space on their own.—
Sandra Salibian,
Footwear News,
30 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
There are hoots and hollers from raucous tourists on Bourbon Street, for example.—
Matt Alderton,
USA Today,
24 Oct. 2025
-
There are a few hoots and hollers as the others agree or protest.—
Sara Holdren,
Vulture,
21 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Public safety officials have already conducted several water rescues as the storm lashes the East Coast with coastal flooding, strong winds, and heavy rain.—
Anna Skinner,
MSNBC Newsweek,
13 Oct. 2025
-
While Harris Reed had more exaggerated bottom lashes and more clustered to the outer wing, lashes at Dreaming Eli were more centered and top-heavy, leaving the bottom lashes natural.—
Essence,
Essence,
23 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Licks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/licks. Accessed 5 Nov. 2025.
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