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

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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
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 Their eponymous debut features some tasty licks and haunting solos and should be an immediate listen for any fans of the genre. — Matt Reigle Outkick, FOXNews.com, 8 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 The footage, shared to social media, features Hagen's Shaggy picking up Scooby and getting a few licks on his face. — Brenton Blanchet, PEOPLE, 8 June 2026 Albert Collins Known as The Master Of The Telecaster, Albert Collins was both blues legend and wild-eyed showman, picking out licks on his 1966 Custom Tele, usually in an open tuning, with a capo on the neck. — New Atlas, 30 May 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
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 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 While Deborah licks her wounds from bombing very, very hard, the Frank interview plays. — Jessica M. Goldstein, Vulture, 1 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
  • Former boxer Prichard Colón has died at age 33, 11 years after sustaining life-altering blows to the head during the only defeat of his professional career.
    — Charlotte Reck, CNN Money, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Some encouraging blows for common sense were struck by primary voters to our north on Tuesday, on both sides of the aisle.
    — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of blows
Noun
  • The spill-resistant keyboard is also able to shrug off any accidental spills or water splashes that come its way.
    — George Yang, PC Magazine, 11 Aug. 2026
  • Clean both indoor and outdoor garbage cans monthly with dish soap and vinegar to remove food debris and splashes that can attract flies.
    — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of splashes
Noun
  • With a few hoots and hollers, and even a couple clucks, the group took off on their ascent to the Betty Bear Hut.
    — Tiney Ricciardi, Denver Post, 30 July 2026
  • Their hoots and hollers drowned Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s explanation of how a title defense fell short.
    — Joel Lorenzi, New York Times, 31 May 2026
Definition of hoots
Verb
  • The first murder is a girl slicing into her slumbering mother’s neck with a hacksaw; then her brother pounds his father’s face in with a baseball bat.
    — Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 4 Aug. 2026
  • Back from a hamstring injury, Teoscar Hernández rejoins a relentless Dodgers offense that pounds 17 hits and three homers in a 9-4 win over the Athletics.
    — Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 30 June 2026
Definition of pounds
Verb
  • 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
  • Finally, Kim masters the steps and takes to the stage with confidence, as her family cheers her on!
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 11 May 2026
Definition of masters
Noun
  • Their swipes at one another have escalated so much that the sitting president has threatened to take away O’Donnell’s citizenship.
    — Raechal Shewfelt, Entertainment Weekly, 18 Aug. 2026
  • With fewer options to switch lanes in the roundabout, there are fewer opportunities for unsafe lane changes to result in side-swipes.
    — Rose Evans August 16, Idaho Statesman, 16 Aug. 2026
Definition of swipes
Noun
  • In a makeup routine, highlighter acts as a finisher, one of the final touches after everything else is blended.
    — Valeriya Chupinina, Vogue, 17 Aug. 2026
  • Jacobs is the alpha male of the Packers’ offense and has absolutely no competition for touches.
    — Bill Reinhard, New York Daily News, 16 Aug. 2026
Definition of touches
Verb
  • 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
  • When Lucky verbally lashes out at Billie, the agents leave the room, but Lucky quickly calls her back.
    — Sabrina Reed, Forbes.com, 12 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 19 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of licks for Spanish Speakers

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