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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of licks
Ralph D. Russo, New York Times, 20 Jan. 2026
Magazine staffers gathered in the editor’s office and listened in awe to pedal steel licks and tight, pretty harmonies — from the Dead!
—Ben Fong-Torres, Rolling Stone, 18 Jan. 2026
Buzzing melodies of alt-rock drift over midtown and in the places in between—licks, backbeats and inspirations are traded by musicians and producers bar for bar.
—Joe Sills, Forbes.com, 17 Jan. 2026
The guitarist, songwriter and record producer was not known for flashy playing, but his spare, catchy licks and solid rhythm chops helped define Memphis soul music.
—Christian Orozco, NBC news, 4 Dec. 2025
Sean Kaufman and Christopher Briney locked licks on the Jumbotron.
—Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 30 Nov. 2025
Sexy guitar licks and a groovy rhythm couple together to create a fiery, catchy tune.
—Audrey Gibbs, Nashville Tennessean, 30 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
Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 16 Jan. 2026
After the drill, Ruin rolls onto his back, then licks a reporter's nose.
—Megan Sauer
tasia Jensen, CNBC, 14 Jan. 2026
Weir picked up his first guitar licks from David Nelson and future Jefferson Airplane member Jorma Kaukonen.
—Richard Gehr, Rolling Stone, 10 Jan. 2026
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
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
Miami got some good licks on Mendoza, bloodying his lip early on a shot from Jakobe Thomas that probably could have drawn a flag for targeting.
—Ralph D. Russo, New York Times, 20 Jan. 2026
Magazine staffers gathered in the editor’s office and listened in awe to pedal steel licks and tight, pretty harmonies — from the Dead!
—Ben Fong-Torres, Rolling Stone, 18 Jan. 2026
Buzzing melodies of alt-rock drift over midtown and in the places in between—licks, backbeats and inspirations are traded by musicians and producers bar for bar.
—Joe Sills, Forbes.com, 17 Jan. 2026
The guitarist, songwriter and record producer was not known for flashy playing, but his spare, catchy licks and solid rhythm chops helped define Memphis soul music.
—Christian Orozco, NBC news, 4 Dec. 2025
Sean Kaufman and Christopher Briney locked licks on the Jumbotron.
—Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 30 Nov. 2025
Sexy guitar licks and a groovy rhythm couple together to create a fiery, catchy tune.
—Audrey Gibbs, Nashville Tennessean, 30 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
Verb
Then, Mitski licks up the blood on the girl’s finger.
—Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 16 Jan. 2026
After the drill, Ruin rolls onto his back, then licks a reporter's nose.
—Megan Sauer
tasia Jensen, CNBC, 14 Jan. 2026
Weir picked up his first guitar licks from David Nelson and future Jefferson Airplane member Jorma Kaukonen.
—Richard Gehr, Rolling Stone, 10 Jan. 2026
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
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
-
Her tenure was marked by downward-trending stock prices and a series of blows to the company’s image.—
John Meyer,
Denver Post,
3 Mar. 2026
-
Unfortunately, Starmer’s Labour government seems bent on inflicting even harsher blows very soon.—
David Frum,
The Atlantic,
2 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
It’s built for extremes with IP68 waterproofing and 5x saltwater resistance, ensuring sea splashes or sweat won't stop its 50W of powerful audio.—
Juhi Wadia,
PC Magazine,
5 Mar. 2026
-
Lightweight cottons and linens feel airy and relaxed, while washable blends are practical in a space consistently exposed to cooking splatter, splashes, and humidity.—
Wendy Rose Gould,
Martha Stewart,
27 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
James is staring into the middle distance while Luka pounds the air out of the Spalding for twenty seconds per possession.—
Dieter Kurtenbach,
Mercury News,
27 Feb. 2026
-
In the present, Simon (now played by Yahya Abdul-Mateen II) pounds his car’s steering wheel, driving away from wreckage.—
JP Mangalindan,
Time,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
From basic fraud claims and partnership disputes to the more esoteric involving combustion turbines, citrus canker or automobile line recalls or land use development issues, Waldman masters the material and, time and again, has delivered big-time results for his clients.—
William Jones,
USA Today,
17 Feb. 2026
-
Stylist Chrissy Rasmussen masters the layered medium-length look on clients.—
Kaitlyn Yarborough,
Southern Living,
20 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
At a whopping 108 minutes, Trump on Tuesday swung wildly between trying to reassure voters their gamble on his return to power was worth it and targeting the Democrats in the room with a series of sneers, taunts, and swipes.—
Philip Elliott,
Time,
25 Feb. 2026
-
During two recent wintry swipes in North Georgia, drivers largely abided by the directive to keep off the roads.—
Doug Turnbull,
AJC.com,
15 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
After amassing 219 rushing attempts over 14 games in his first season in Detroit, Montgomery's touches declined each of the next two seasons due to the emergence of Pro Bowl running back Jahmyr Gibbs.—
Matt Finkel,
CBS News,
2 Mar. 2026
-
Conceived of as a living, breathing body, and accompanied by various soundtracks, the textile will unite the other works on display, including Entropy Altar, which generates random numbers, yielding unpredictable patterns and touches on the human need to find meaning in data.—
News Desk,
Artforum,
2 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The Blackhawks dressing room was a rowdy scene after the game, their hoots and hollers reverberating throughout the bowels of the United Center.—
Mark Lazerus,
New York Times,
3 Feb. 2026
-
Cowboy and cowgirl hoots and hollers complement the rumbling of the massive animals’ hooves as they’re rounded up into the corrals.—
Lydia Mansel,
Travel + Leisure,
28 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
It’s also made with linoleic acid, a natural emollient that nourishes lashes and brows.—
Jenny Berg,
Vogue,
27 Feb. 2026
-
Hard Truths premiered at the 2024 Toronto Film Festival and followed Marianne Jean-Baptiste as Pansy, an angry and depressed woman who lashes out at family and strangers, and whose constant criticism slowly isolates her.—
Lily Ford,
HollywoodReporter,
11 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Licks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/licks. Accessed 8 Mar. 2026.
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