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.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of licks
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
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
Richard Gehr, Rolling Stone, 10 Jan. 2026
Everybody licks the big pink flesh wall.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 13 Nov. 2025
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
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
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
Verb
Weir picked up his first guitar licks from David Nelson and future Jefferson Airplane member Jorma Kaukonen.
—Richard Gehr, Rolling Stone, 10 Jan. 2026
Everybody licks the big pink flesh wall.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 13 Nov. 2025
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
-
Additionally, 35 people were also treated at the scene and in hospitals for various injuries, such as lacerations, blows and scrapes, Crónica reported.—
Gabrielle Rockson,
PEOPLE,
13 Jan. 2026
-
The fourth quarter was a wild one, with each team trading blows.—
Jeff Howe,
New York Times,
11 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Those bright white tees seem to be absolute stain magnets attracting coffee drips, spaghetti sauce spots, and salad dressing splashes.—
Melissa Locker,
Southern Living,
10 Jan. 2026
-
Atlas is also built to withstand harsh conditions, operating reliably in temperatures from -4°F to 104°F, and is waterproofed to protect it from splashes on factory floors.—
Sujita Sinha,
Interesting Engineering,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Burrell pounds his way down to the four-yard line.—
Caleb Yum,
Austin American Statesman,
18 Oct. 2025
-
The man simply pounds the zone.—
Dan Freedman,
Forbes.com,
1 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Stylist Chrissy Rasmussen masters the layered medium-length look on clients.—
Kaitlyn Yarborough,
Southern Living,
20 Dec. 2025
-
Bette Davis masters a rare light comedy turn as Sherry's long-suffering secretary, with Jimmy Durante as a visitor from Broadway and Wizard of Oz (1939) good witch Billie Burke as the overwhelmed matriarch of the Stanley clan.—
Gwen Ihnat,
Entertainment Weekly,
12 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
Her 335 career steals trail only the 346 swipes that Linda Waggoner recorded from 1976-80.—
Danny Davis,
Austin American Statesman,
9 Jan. 2026
-
Wipe in circular motions with a lint-free microfiber cloth to loosen grime, then finish with long, horizontal swipes.—
Daley Quinn,
Southern Living,
7 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The rooms Rooms in the Contemporary’s main tower were recently refurbished to feature touches from Disney’s The Incredibles franchise, which reflects the hotel’s midcentury theme.—
Valerie Marino,
Condé Nast Traveler,
9 Jan. 2026
-
Yet these touches are never extreme or imaginative or entertaining enough to match, say, the wild ride that was The Hunting Wives.—
Judy Berman,
Time,
8 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
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
-
There are hoots and hollers from raucous tourists on Bourbon Street, for example.—
Matt Alderton,
USA Today,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
According to Augustinus Bader, apply to brows and lashes morning and night.—
Kiana Murden,
Vogue,
9 Jan. 2026
-
After her mani-pedi was complete, and the beautician had given her a coffee per usual, the pair were going to move on to brows and lashes when the woman asked to use the bathroom.—
Bailey Richards,
PEOPLE,
28 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Licks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/licks. Accessed 20 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
