licks 1 of 2

noun

plural of lick
1
as in blows
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 splashes
a very small amount the soup needs just a lick more of salt

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

licks

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of lick
1
as in pounds
to strike repeatedly your father will lick you good if he hears you using swear words

Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in masters
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 licks
Noun
But for the most part, both are getting their points across, landing a few licks and, so far, avoiding the sort of major gaffe or damaging moment that could reshape the race. — AJC.com, 7 Oct. 2026 Shafee operates in a languid, free-form zone throughout, trading his funky licks for loose, spacious lines and tolling, repetitive chords. — Reed Jackson, SPIN, 6 Oct. 2026 LaPenna got in a few licks, scoring some clean shots to the robot's head. — Jon Martindale, PC Magazine, 5 Oct. 2026 Still, the 7-foot-3 giant still got his licks in on Mysterio. — Ryan Gaydos Outkick, FOXNews.com, 11 Sep. 2026 Opening with the title track, feedback-heavy licks set the temperature as Dillom catches us up on the escapades of recent years. — Richard Villegas, Rolling Stone, 14 Aug. 2026 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 Zachary Stevenson’s performance replicates the nerdy-yet-hip Texan through impressive guitar licks and superb vocals that are equally comfortable with sweet ballads and on-the-edge rockabilly songs. — Philip Potempa, Chicago Tribune, 11 June 2026 Elk, deer, and buffalo had migrated to and from mineral licks throughout North America for millennia. — Literary Hub, 10 June 2026
Verb
That glib self-confidence is present in McNamara, who licks the doughnut glaze off his fingers before offering his hand to the female detective questioning the one living Jason. — Scott Tobias, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2026 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 Food stands also debuted that year, with ribs sizzling along with the blues licks. — Adam Harrington, CBS News, 9 June 2026 At one point in a dinner scene, Shields' Erika licks Joey's fingers. — Raechal Shewfelt, Entertainment Weekly, 6 June 2026 A lot of freedom going on between the guitars, a lotta little licks intermingle with the big guitar licks that the song is all about. — Liza Lentini, SPIN, 22 May 2026 At one point A’zion licks the digitally de-aged Mick Jagger’s face. — Ethan Millman, HollywoodReporter, 14 May 2026 After the drill, Ruin rolls onto his back, then licks a reporter's nose. — Megan Sauer tasia Jensen, CNBC, 14 Jan. 2026 Weir picked up his first guitar licks from David Nelson and future Jefferson Airplane member Jorma Kaukonen. — Richard Gehr, Rolling Stone, 10 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for licks
  1. blows
  2. splashes
  3. hoots
  4. pounds
  5. masters
  6. swipes
  7. touches
  8. lashes
Noun
  • Deaton was well-prepared, brought the fire, and landed a number of blows that at times appeared to make Markey wince.
    — Jon Keller, CBS News, 14 Oct. 2026
  • The two countries have been trading blows on energy infrastructure.
    — Justina Lee, CNBC, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of blows
Noun
  • The apron is built to take a beating—oils and rogue splashes barely register, practically rolling right off the surface.
    — Alaina Chou, Bon Appetit Magazine, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Jazz fusion keyboardist George Duke, however, plays wild splashes of melody on an electric piano in the empty spaces between Waits’s lines.
    — Al Shipley, SPIN, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of splashes
Noun
  • Church bells, owl hoots and sprinklers keeping the grass hydrated during this dry spell fill the space between the occasional motor trudging along a main road devoid of commotion.
    — Matt Schneidman, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
  • Ranging from the sound of emergency sirens and birds screeching to low grunts and guttural hoots, their vocalizations reverberate from a sanctuary in the hot, dry hills of the Santa Clarita Valley, north of Los Angeles.
    — Jaimie Ding, Fortune, 23 Aug. 2026
Definition of hoots
Verb
  • Higher prices come as Ukraine pounds Russian refineries, forcing Moscow to ban diesel exports.
    — Spencer Kimball, CNBC, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Part of the problem is that every summer, water pounds down on sidewalks in the Treasure Valley, drops rippling on glassy reflective surfaces, all because of sprinkler jets overshooting the grass and landing on pavement.
    — Idaho Statesman, Idaho Statesman, 23 Aug. 2026
Definition of pounds
Verb
  • Part of the ceiling consideration at quarterback is how a player masters the mental side of the game.
    — Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 23 Sep. 2026
  • The real competitive advantage of the next decade will not belong to the CEO who masters every AI platform, but the CEO who consistently makes better decisions.
    — Jose Luis Gonzalez Rodriguez, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of masters
Noun
  • Behind the metallic Ray-Ban logo on the right temple is a touch surface for taps and swipes to accept calls and control audio playback.
    — Will Greenwald, PC Magazine, 13 Oct. 2026
  • On social media, the campaign has highlighted events such as Begich’s visit to the Alaska State Fair and recently has taken swipes at Hill.
    — Becky Bohrer, Los Angeles Times, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of swipes
Noun
  • Upon arrival, guests enjoy touches like fresh flowers, a handwritten note from the general manager, and Godiva chocolates in their rooms.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 16 Oct. 2026
  • To update the original design, from the spring 1997 couture collection, current Chanel designer Matthieu Blazy added his own touches to the silhouette—reworking it with a sweetheart neckline and a more structured shape.
    — Christian Allaire, Vogue, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of touches
Verb
  • Alpha 1, who’s most strict about the disease’s suppression, lashes out uncontrollably.
    — Cortlyn Kelly, IndieWire, 8 Sep. 2026
  • The best mascaras for older women help coat lashes with color while addressing the annoying issues that come with age.
    — Micaela English, Glamour, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of lashes

Browse Nearby Words

lickings
licks
lickspittle
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Cite this Entry

“Licks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/licks. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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