KENNING Synonyms: 119 Similar and Opposite Words

kenning 1 of 2

noun

Definition of kenning

chiefly Scottish

as in halfpenny

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Dissimilar Words

kenning

2 of 2

verb

present participle of ken, chiefly Scottish

as in fathoming

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Dissimilar Words

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 kenning

Noun

This is a kenning that evokes a natural transition to darkness and also an unfinished human endeavor. — Jonah Walters, Longreads, 24 Oct. 2024 Most of the writers attempting to imitate Tolkien weren’t steeped in the rhythm of Old English kennings, or the spiritual yearning of chivalric romance. — Matthew Gavin Frank, Harper's Magazine, 2 June 2023 My favorite parts of the book are those where there's a new kenning. — Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 14 Apr. 2023

Recent Examples of Synonyms for kenning

Noun

Indeed, in 2023, his music earned him just shy of $200,000, about one halfpenny at a time.

— Brett Martin, New York Times, 31 Mar. 2024
In nineteenth-century England, tailors would place old halfpennies in the pockets of a man’s new suit for good luck.

— Hua Hsu, The New Yorker, 18 Sep. 2023

Definition of halfpenny

Verb

For starters, even though federal law requires hospitals to list their prices publicly, fathoming these files is almost impossible.

— Rufina Chow, NBC news, 3 Apr. 2026
However, Chiefs veteran center Creed Humphrey says his team won't be listening to those, or even fathoming the thought of panicking.

— Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 18 Nov. 2025

Definition of fathoming

Noun

Moves for Anan Khalaili and Zavier Gozo are being finalised, and with both able to play right wing-back, there are whispers Daniel Munoz may be sold.

— Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2026
That is, the ability to provide the benefits of modern speech interfaces without the need for users to speak audibly, even at a whisper.

— Greg Uyeno, IEEE Spectrum, 13 Aug. 2026

Definition of whisper

Verb

Many are dissatisfied with democracy, perceiving participation as mere consultation without consequence.

— Belonging Forum, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026
Yet American students and scholars flocked in droves to theory, perceiving in its recondite abstractions a thrilling new way of understanding the world—even, some believed, of changing it.

— Emily Eakin, Harpers Magazine, 28 July 2026

Definition of perceiving

Noun

Tiny bugs float in the sun like dust motes, and there are graceful flies large enough to require a runway landing.

— John Metcalfe, Mercury News, 4 May 2026
Sunbeams through the windows illuminate floating dust motes—and, imperceptibly, microdroplets of mucus carrying the measles virus, expelled from an infected but asymptomatic child who is hopping and laughing among the others.

— Elizabeth Bruenig, The Atlantic, 12 Feb. 2026

Definition of mote

Verb

She’s tasked with apprehending The Puppet Master (Iemasa Kayumi), a hacker who appears to be tapping directly into these networked minds and altering memories.

— David Faris, TheWeek, 14 Aug. 2026
Police posted video of the raid on social media, showing officers collecting evidence at the scene and apprehending the suspect.

— CBS News, CBS News, 13 June 2026

Definition of apprehending

Noun

But over the decades, physicists found a way to rewrite the theories and re-derive them in a more atom-friendly way.

— Charlie Wood, Quanta Magazine, 17 Aug. 2026
In this approach, atoms are cooled down to temperatures near absolute zero using lasers and changes are recorded by comparing the frequency of the clock to these slowed down atoms.

— Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 17 Aug. 2026

Definition of atom

Verb

Hong Kong’s position as a once-outspoken corner of China has been upended in recent years by a national security crackdown following huge and often violent democracy protests that convulsed the city in 2019.

— Chris Lau, CNN Money, 21 Aug. 2026
The city also recognized the frustration some residents had following the July 18 bus crash and encouraged them to submit formal claims.

— CBS News, CBS News, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of following

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Style

“Kenning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/kenning. Accessed 21 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of kenning

noun

verb

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