1
as in blow
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 splash
a very small amount
the soup needs just a lick more of salt
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in damn
the smallest amount or part imaginable
you haven't done a lick of work all day
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in to hide
to strike repeatedly
your father will lick you good if he hears you using swear words
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in to master
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 lick
Scott Travers, Forbes, 4 Jan. 2025
Along with the obviously wonderful vocals, there’s so much alchemy with the great instrumental parts by the Funk Brothers, with James Jamerson on bass and Robert White on guitar, contributing these incredible musical licks.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 23 Dec. 2024
John Mac Ghlionn, Newsweek, 13 Jan. 2025
Wipe paws off after walking outdoors with a wet washcloth or baby wipes to prevent pets from licking soot off of their feet after coming inside.
—Geoffrey Eisler, ABC News, 12 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for lick 
Noun
Cher Ami, however, managed to make it through—though not without taking his licks (the pigeon was shot in the chest and the leg, and lost an eye).
—Scott Travers, Forbes, 4 Jan. 2025
Along with the obviously wonderful vocals, there’s so much alchemy with the great instrumental parts by the Funk Brothers, with James Jamerson on bass and Robert White on guitar, contributing these incredible musical licks.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 23 Dec. 2024
Verb
If pets do go outside, Aitken recommended wiping their paws with a wet towel or baby wipes to ensure any soot is removed, to stop them from licking it off.
—John Mac Ghlionn, Newsweek, 13 Jan. 2025
Wipe paws off after walking outdoors with a wet washcloth or baby wipes to prevent pets from licking soot off of their feet after coming inside.
—Geoffrey Eisler, ABC News, 12 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for lick
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lick
Noun
-
The order to withdraw from the Paris climate accord, which was widely expected, follows a similar move by the first Trump administration in 2017 and deals a major blow to global efforts to protect the environment.—
Sam Meredith,
CNBC,
21 Jan. 2025
-
Trump also signed an order signaling his intent to weaken tailpipe emission standards, which would be a major blow to the environment.—
Andrew J. Hawkins,
The Verge,
21 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
There is only one back-to-back set, right before the break on Feb. 8 and 9. Upstart goaltenders have made big splashes in Montreal in the past.—
Carol Schram,
Forbes,
20 Jan. 2025
-
Rare is it that a debut cookbook written by someone without a large preexisting fan base makes such a splash, but the book continues to this day to be a go-to resource for anybody looking to develop their confidence in the kitchen and is in many ways a modern classic.—
Wilder Davies,
Bon Appétit,
17 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
Shortly thereafter, Facebook changed its name to Meta and sank $45 billion into its vision of a digital universe that most people just don’t seem to give much of a damn about.—
Boone Ashworth,
WIRED,
25 Sep. 2024
-
But the rate at which people are ditching cable suggests that carriage fees won’t be worth a tinker’s damn by the time the looming batch of NBA deals expires.—
Anthony Crupi,
Sportico.com,
5 July 2024
Verb
-
Asked about his identity and to provide authorization, Deng tried to hide his equipment and flee, prompting the officials to take him and his companions into custody.—
Kristen Waggoner,
Newsweek,
22 Jan. 2025
-
The show struggles a bit in places to credibly evoke the relative innocence (or quiet oppression) of the 1970s and there are some moments of cluttered staging that just don’t work; as one example, a big gag involving kids hiding in a coffin kinda needs a casket to work.—
Chris Jones,
Chicago Tribune,
21 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
Focus on understanding end-to-end processes and business cases and mastering the art of asking questions.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes,
21 Jan. 2025
-
The challenges his agenda attempts to address accumulated over decades, and are now greater than can be mastered by any one leader, or even one country.—
Massimo Calabresi,
TIME,
19 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
The sun strikes the surface like a slap of light, as bright as a star’s flash.—
Sallie Tisdale,
Harper's Magazine,
2 Dec. 2024
-
The fist pumps and slaps of the left thigh between points have fresh vigour.—
Matthew Futterman,
The Athletic,
15 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
Hundreds of commenters who had never met the couple thanked her for the shred of good news.—
Callie Holtermann,
New York Times,
9 Jan. 2025
-
The record’s new-wave ditties are an amalgamation of strange but immediately identifiable components, chimeras of ’60s pop à la Lesley Gore and the frenzied shred of a skateboarding compilation.—
Pitchfork,
Pitchfork,
3 Dec. 2024
Noun
-
The last-minute Annie Oakley act does not alter that one whit.—
The Editors,
National Review,
30 Sep. 2024
-
The same wellness warriors who fret about microplastics seem not to care one whit about the breakdown of medical aesthetics.—
Mattie Kahn,
Vogue,
23 July 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near lick
Cite this Entry
“Lick.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lick. Accessed 3 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share