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
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
Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of licking
Dr. Devon B. Smith, Baltimore Sun, 1 May 2024
Lip licking causes a vicious cycle of licking lips to hydrate, only to dry them out more said Dr. Shayan Cheraghlou, academic chief dermatology resident at NYU Grossman School of Medicine.
—Jocelyn Solis-Moreira, CNN, 7 Apr. 2024
Ben Church, CNN, 2 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for licking 
Noun
Potential complications to itchy paws are secondary yeast and/or bacterial infections, caused by a breakdown of the skin’s barriers due to incessant licking or chewing.
—Dr. Devon B. Smith, Baltimore Sun, 1 May 2024
Lip licking causes a vicious cycle of licking lips to hydrate, only to dry them out more said Dr. Shayan Cheraghlou, academic chief dermatology resident at NYU Grossman School of Medicine.
—Jocelyn Solis-Moreira, CNN, 7 Apr. 2024
Verb
But while some of the world’s strongest teams flexed their muscles in this season’s competition, many of the tournament minnows were left licking their wounds after being on the receiving end of a demolition.
—Ben Church, CNN, 2 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for licking
Recent Examples of Synonyms for licking
Noun
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All that power, however, took quite a beating when Stewart was arrested for insider trading in 2002.Constance Grady, Vox, 4 Nov. 2024
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The settlement approved last week alleged that the state had failed to protect Canter from Santana, leading to the June 2019 beating.Baltimore Sun staff, Baltimore Sun, 4 Nov. 2024
Verb
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Use It To Help Flatten Chicken Breasts Before pounding any meat to create cutlets, use wax paper in between it and your mallet to help avoid any unwanted stickiness and keep it in place.Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 2 Oct. 2024
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Israel has been pounding Hezbollah positions in southern Lebanon for days.Dina Kraft, The Christian Science Monitor, 1 Oct. 2024
Noun
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Biden was heading for a resounding defeat to Trump.Matthew Carey, Deadline, 22 Nov. 2024
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Meanwhile, President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris are grappling with declining approval ratings following their electoral defeat.Matt Robison, Newsweek, 21 Nov. 2024
Verb
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Further evidence is the fact that Amazon is bragging about, not hiding, season 2 viewership.Paul Tassi, Forbes, 4 Oct. 2024
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The footage captured a figure in a ski mask hiding in the shadows as an unsuspecting woman arrives at the bank and goes about withdrawing money from the ATM.Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, Fox News, 4 Oct. 2024
Noun
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The Browns have suffered losses to the Giants and Raiders on a resume that includes a seemingly inexplicable victory over Baltimore.Jack Magruder, Forbes, 21 Nov. 2024
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Travis Kelce was disappointed in himself after the Chiefs first loss of the season.Natasha Dye, People.com, 20 Nov. 2024
Verb
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In a world where the average person’s attention span is becoming shorter than ever, mastering time management feels like an impossible task.Benjamin Laker, Forbes, 4 Oct. 2024
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The journey isn’t without its challenges, but mastering secure interoperability is worth the effort.Arpan Saxena, Forbes, 4 Oct. 2024
Noun
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KitchenAid Artisan Series 5-Quart Stand Mixer $450 $350 at Amazon The iconic KitchenAid stand mixer makes easy work of whisking, kneading, whipping, and mixing with its 10 speeds, handy attachments, and large stainless mixing bowl.Isabel Garcia, People.com, 8 Oct. 2024
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Heavy whipping cream: Whipped to lighten the cream cheese filling.Jasmine Smith, Southern Living, 3 June 2024
Verb
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Khaled stood atop their Citroen van, lashing down overstuffed suitcases with rope.Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2024
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Khaled stood atop their Citroen van, lashing down overstuffed suitcases with rope.Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near licking
Cite this Entry
“Licking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/licking. Accessed 4 Dec. 2024.
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