as in beating
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
1
as in pounding
to strike repeatedly
your father will lick you good if he hears you using swear words
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in defeating
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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Recent Examples of licking
K. Thor Jensen,
PC Magazine,
20 Mar. 2026
Common signs of anal gland problems include scooting, persistent odors, and excessive licking of the rear end.
—
Kasey Caminiti,
USA Today,
5 Feb. 2026
Hannah Gold,
New Yorker,
17 June 2026
Rahm is a more tame thrill ride who should be licking his chops at a venue like this, but could succumb to the conditions and never recover.
—
Mark Harris Outkick,
FOXNews.com,
16 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for licking
Noun
March has a wide variety of loadouts, from sleek two-in-ones to rugged portables that'll take a licking and keep on ticking.
—
K. Thor Jensen,
PC Magazine,
20 Mar. 2026
Common signs of anal gland problems include scooting, persistent odors, and excessive licking of the rear end.
—
Kasey Caminiti,
USA Today,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
The image of the students as vivisectors, committed to extracting the hearts and licking the bones of the transgressors in their midst, seems to mirror her own hatred of the university’s tendency toward frenzied analysis.
—
Hannah Gold,
New Yorker,
17 June 2026
Rahm is a more tame thrill ride who should be licking his chops at a venue like this, but could succumb to the conditions and never recover.
—
Mark Harris Outkick,
FOXNews.com,
16 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for licking
Recent Examples of Synonyms for licking
Noun
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The woman told deputies that over three days she was repeatedly beaten, pistol-whipped and strangled into near unconsciousness before receiving yet another beating Sunday morning.
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Jackson agreed to plead no contest to battery in May for the beating of professional wrestler Stuart Smith at a KnokX Pro Wrestling Academy event in Sun Valley.
Verb
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America is better when Paul Skenes is embarrassing hitters with Livvy in the stands pounding Miller Lites.
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The heart-pounding encounter ended with the calf reunited with its mother, dramatic photos on a cellphone — and the couple continuing on to catch brook trout.
Verb
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The girls posted a 6-2 record at the state tournament in a field of 50 of Southern California’s top 12U teams with several extra-inning and walk-off wins, defeating multiple district champions, including San Juan Capistrano and Oxnard.
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Another democratic socialist, 29-year-old Melat Kiros, won a congressional primary in Colorado on June 30, defeating a longtime Democratic incumbent.
Noun
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The film culminates in the Battle of the Monongahela in 1755, where Washington steps up and delivers a rousing speech to the British army despite their defeat.
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That conversion and conquest crusade brought disease and defeat to native Californians, whose numbers and ways of life would be all but exterminated by the time the United States of America celebrated its first 100 years.
Verb
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Failing to disclose or intentionally hiding assets can make a prenup more vulnerable to being challenged in court.
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The find suggests one of NASA’s most successful planet hunters may still have plenty of surprises hiding in its archives.
Verb
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Forward-looking firms are overcoming this by deploying advanced technical strategies.
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Normal matter can’t be stuffed into a space tiny and dense enough without overcoming a huge outward pressure.
Noun
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The congregation started to arrive at the usual time, about half an hour before Mass on a recent Saturday afternoon, the old church slowly filling with the descendants and caretakers of a place of great serenity but also great loss.
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Fireflies are facing growing challenges from habitat loss, pesticide use, climate change and light pollution.
Verb
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And a Cut Absolute is whipping around upon seeing the person and walking away.
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Patrick Evans made it to the top step of the Motocross Best Trick event with his electric bike, whipping out a no-handed front flip to loud cheers from the crowd before climbing back up the ramp to celebrate.
Cite this Entry
“Licking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/licking. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
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