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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of licking
Lydia Kariuki, The Mercury News, 3 Dec. 2024
The lips don’t have the same concentration of oil glands as other areas of the skin and are constantly exposed to environmental factors, such as lip licking, cosmetics, and cold weather.
—Isadora Baum, Allure, 19 Nov. 2024
Benedict Cosgrove, Newsweek, 20 Dec. 2024
Teeny’s flames quickly start licking her rope.
—Nick Caruso, TVLine, 18 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for licking 
Noun
Not only do the natural ingredients promote healthier skin and fur, but the calming side effects will reduce excessive licking or scratching caused by anxiety.
—Lydia Kariuki, The Mercury News, 3 Dec. 2024
The lips don’t have the same concentration of oil glands as other areas of the skin and are constantly exposed to environmental factors, such as lip licking, cosmetics, and cold weather.
—Isadora Baum, Allure, 19 Nov. 2024
Verb
While licking you is a way for a dog to bond and promotes affection, stopping it will not compromise your relationship.
—Benedict Cosgrove, Newsweek, 20 Dec. 2024
Teeny’s flames quickly start licking her rope.
—Nick Caruso, TVLine, 18 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for licking
Recent Examples of Synonyms for licking
Noun
-
Pereira outclassed Rountree, putting a beating on his opponent before scoring a fourth-round TKO win.—
Trent Reinsmith,
Forbes,
20 Jan. 2025
-
Frazier gave Ali the worst beating of his life, slamming his midsection, round after round, with blows meant to send his kidneys and heart into unbearable anguish.—
Mikal Gilmore,
Rolling Stone,
17 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
The crowd was so excited that the plexiglass behind us was pounding.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
29 Dec. 2024
-
Prepare for fast, heart-pounding action and brutal competition in this multiplayer game.—
Dana Feldman,
Forbes,
28 Dec. 2024
Noun
-
Following a rough 104-83 loss to the Brooklyn Nets, the Charlotte Hornets announced LaMelo Ball will be re-evaluated in a week after spraining his ankle in Monday’s defeat to the Los Angeles Lakers.—
Roderick Boone,
Charlotte Observer,
30 Jan. 2025
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Smelling defeat from Putin's myriad military, economic, and diplomatic failures, Trump does not see Putin as a worthy ally.—
Jonathan Granoff,
Newsweek,
29 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
Rushdie himself was attacked on stage at an event in upstate New York in 2022 after coming out of hiding.—
Jesse Whittock,
Deadline,
27 Dec. 2024
-
Rushdie himself was attacked on stage at an event in upstate New York in 2022 after coming out of hiding.—
Jesse Whittock,
Deadline,
27 Dec. 2024
Noun
-
The recall follows one in November, when Hyundai and Kia recalled more than 200,000 electric vehicles to fix a transistor in a charging control unit that could be damaged and cause the loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash.—
Alexandra Banner,
CNN,
27 Jan. 2025
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First of all, Mark was not the only one responsible for the loss.—
Reader Commentary,
Baltimore Sun,
27 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Elle was also seen whipping her hands in a circle to the music during the awards ceremony.—
Stephanie Wenger,
People.com,
6 Jan. 2025
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This instant camera captures little moments and big occasions on film, which feels a little more special than whipping out an iPhone.—
Malia Griggs,
Glamour,
2 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
The future of content creation lies not in choosing between human or artificial intelligence, but in mastering their combination.—
Ian Shepherd,
Forbes,
29 Dec. 2024
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The key to mastering the look, according to A-list manicurist Tinu Bello?—
Ranyechi Udemezue,
Vogue,
28 Dec. 2024
Noun
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General comment on the season: The Milan fall collections remind us of the importance of touch — connecting with nature through elegance, the charm of luxurious trimmings and details.—
Luisa Zargani,
WWD,
21 Jan. 2025
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Any residents who’ve missed the Jan. 10 deadline will need to cut up their tree and deposit them in the yard trimmings bin.—
Chase Hunter,
The Mercury News,
3 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near licking
Cite this Entry
“Licking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/licking. Accessed 2 Feb. 2025.
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