lick 1 of 2

noun

Definition of licknext
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

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2
as in shred
a very small amount the soup needs just a lick more of salt

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in damn
the smallest amount or part imaginable you haven't done a lick of work all day

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lick

2 of 2

verb

ˈlik How to pronounce lick (audio)
1
as in to hide
to strike repeatedly your father will lick you good if he hears you using swear words

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2
as in to master
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 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
Noun
Turay’s glassy guitar licks have a Metheny-ish tint to them, while Bemis opts to ride quick, slinky rhythms rather than abusing his crash cymbal. — Sam Goldner, Pitchfork, 23 July 2026 That remains to be seen, but Brady certainly got the first lick in. — Angelique Jackson, Variety, 18 July 2026
Verb
Later, a woman protractedly licks blue ice cream from a cone, her attempts thwarted by ferocious gusts of wind and sand. — Matilda Hague, Variety, 13 Aug. 2026 Griffin diligently washes his hands after his dogs lick them, especially before picking up a slice of pizza. — Angela Haupt, Time, 12 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for lick
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lick
  1. blow
  2. shred
  3. damn
  4. hide
  5. master
  6. slap
  7. splash
  8. whit
Noun
  • If the aim, as stated, is to deal an economic blow to Iran, the fact is that the country is already under severe strain.
    — Hamidreza Azizi, Time, 29 Aug. 2026
  • The impact of yesterday’s sharp drop in South Korean equities transmitted further into US markets overnight, spreading selling sentiment and dealing heavy blows to US semiconductor and memory stocks.
    — , CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of blow
Noun
  • Some of these cabinet members have even maintained, without a shred of evidence, that Syria’s president, the former jihadist Ahmed al-Shara, is preparing to attack Israel.
    — Amos Harel, Foreign Affairs, 2 Sep. 2026
  • But Michael Sanft, Davis’ defense lawyer, argued that the prosecution had no forensics, no eyewitness and not a single shred of physical evidence placing Davis in the Cadillac with the shooter.
    — Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of shred
Noun
  • Trump is not a successful deal maker, because no deal Trump makes is worth a damn.
    — Chris Brennan, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2026
  • And if that is to be the case, most Chicagoans do not give a damn whether the team goes to Arlington Heights or Hammond.
    — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 1 June 2026
Definition of damn
Verb
  • Yes, that’s right, the world’s most famous nude sculpture was once outfitted with a belt of 28 copper leaves to hide its genitalia.
    — Alicja Zelazko, Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Sep. 2026
  • Avoid walking through tall grass, rocky areas or other places where snakes might hide, such as wildflower or bluebonnet patches.
    — Brandi D. Addison, USA Today, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of hide
Verb
  • Rookies ultimately have to master such challenges as flight dynamics, parachute malfunctions, and landing in dangerous conditions.
    — M. R. O’Connor, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2026
  • To be sure, successful leaders manage to master this self-presentational skill with the talent of great method-actors.
    — Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of master
Noun
  • Instead, a slap and then reverse-slap of their hands turns to a fist-on-top-of-fist bump, which then wraps up with a classic knuckle tap.
    — Tom Smyth, Vulture, 1 Sep. 2026
  • These 16 slaps are lucid and adventurous, featuring random Jay Electronica warblings, DJ Quik rhythms, and a couple of surprisingly appropriate Westside Gunn vignettes.
    — Will Dukes, Rolling Stone, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of slap
Noun
  • This was far from Towns’ first public splash in the sports card space.
    — Larry Holder, New York Times, 1 Sep. 2026
  • The splash screen that appears when loading up Orbitals, showing Shapefarm and publisher Kepler Interactive’s logos, is soaked in retro-futuristic bright neon like Apple’s back in the 80s.
    — George Yang, Space.com, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of splash
Noun
  • His adoration, here as in all things natural, is infectious, although the birds themselves care not a whit for him, and isn’t that part of the wonder, the fun?
    — Ian Crouch, New Yorker, 8 May 2026
  • An unconventional structure or new approach bothers them not a whit.
    — Mac Barnett, Longreads, 5 May 2026
Definition of whit

Browse Nearby Words

licit
lick
licked
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Cite this Entry

“Lick.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lick. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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