as in beating
failure to win a contest
our team took a licking last night, but we'll get them next time
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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
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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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Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of licking
Nina Turner, Newsweek, 29 Oct. 2024
Excessive scratching and/or licking are among the first signs of allergies, according to the University of Illinois Veterinary Teaching Hospital.
—Elizabeth Gamillo, Discover Magazine, 21 May 2024
Dan Perry, Newsweek, 26 Nov. 2024
While the contestants were playing for wraps and cake, our reward was a vaguely disturbing slow-motion shot of Andy licking and biting a giant ball.
—Dalton Ross, EW.com, 21 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for licking 
Noun
The Dogs Trust highlights that signs of discomfort in dogs can include stiff body language, lip licking, or yawning as a way to calm themselves.
—Nina Turner, Newsweek, 29 Oct. 2024
Excessive scratching and/or licking are among the first signs of allergies, according to the University of Illinois Veterinary Teaching Hospital.
—Elizabeth Gamillo, Discover Magazine, 21 May 2024
Verb
About 10 minutes later the pup comes out of the house licking his lips, walking back home with a full belly, and a happy, wiggling tail.
—Dan Perry, Newsweek, 26 Nov. 2024
While the contestants were playing for wraps and cake, our reward was a vaguely disturbing slow-motion shot of Andy licking and biting a giant ball.
—Dalton Ross, EW.com, 21 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for licking
Recent Examples of Synonyms for licking
Noun
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Those days are long gone, and that approach is now a recipe for a beating in modern MMA, as Gracie discovered on Saturday.Brian Mazique, Forbes, 9 Dec. 2024
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Villeneuve’s adaptation smartly shifts our allegiance to Zendaya’s Chani, who gets elevated from a side character to the film’s beating, conflicted heart.Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 6 Dec. 2024
Verb
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But, that reality doesn’t stop the evangelists from pounding their chests and boldly declaring that everything from babies to Roombas should be put on chain.Jordan Yallen, Forbes, 9 Dec. 2024
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Hike through thrilling jungle terrain, explore a breathtaking network of underground caverns, and rappel down a stunning waterfall with a heart-pounding descent into the Belizean rainforest.Patricia Johnson, Travel + Leisure, 8 Dec. 2024
Noun
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That doesn’t mean the Harris defeat is any less painful for her advisers.Philip Elliott, TIME, 6 Dec. 2024
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The defeat moves the app closer to a U.S. ban, which is set to take effect on Jan. 19, 2025.Max Zahn, ABC News, 6 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Your top performers have figured out a secret that's hiding in plain sight.B.D. Dalton, Forbes, 11 Dec. 2024
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Your top performers have figured out a secret that's hiding in plain sight.B.D. Dalton, Forbes, 11 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Such outages are defined as those affecting at least 50,000 homes or businesses, or causing at least a 300-megawatt loss of power.Raja Krishnamoorthi, Newsweek, 16 Dec. 2024
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Shiseido reported an operating loss of 2.7 billion yen in the six months ended June 30, versus a profit of 13.63 billion yen in the same prior-year period.Kathryn Hopkins, WWD, 16 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Sick of whipping out a hair dryer, round brush, and a straightener to achieve a frizz-free blowout?Clara McMahon, People.com, 10 Dec. 2024
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With gusts of up to 80 mph possible, a small fire could transform into an inferno, whipping embers at astonishing speeds and leaving firefighters with few options other than trying to get people to evacuate.Rong-Gong Lin II, Los Angeles Times, 9 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Researchers found in preliminary results that AI was still far from mastering the game.Jason Fields, Newsweek, 5 Dec. 2024
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After mastering street skating in Brazil’s local circuits, Bufoni became a six-time X Games Gold Medalist, a Street League Skateboarding (SLS) Super Crown Champion, and an Olympian for Brazil.Andy Frye, Forbes, 5 Dec. 2024
Noun
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These handmade trimmings, drenched in jubilant jewel tones, set the stage for a timeless holiday scene.Kathy Barnes, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Dec. 2024
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See all of their services here, which span lawn care, tree trimming, painting and even remodeling projects.Sophie Liza Cannon, Forbes, 30 Nov. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near licking
Cite this Entry
“Licking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/licking. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.
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