1
as in sphere
a more or less round body or mass
the little rubber ball used in racquetball a ball of string
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in bullet
a usually round or cone-shaped little piece of lead made to be fired from a firearm
found a cache of musket balls while excavating the old fort
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of ball
Bill Center, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Mar. 2026
Five of them will be white balls numbered 1 to 69.
—Fernando Cervantes Jr, USA Today, 15 Mar. 2026
Nadia Hassani, The Spruce, 16 Feb. 2026
These are the romance movies that lean into big emotions, meaningful connections, and the kind of love that lingers long after the credits roll — and will likely leave you balling your eyes out.
—Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 30 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ball
Noun
The Tritons finished with a 39-34 edge in rebounds and forced Hawaii into 19 turnovers while making 11 steals and turning the ball over only seven times.
—Bill Center, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Mar. 2026
Five of them will be white balls numbered 1 to 69.
—Fernando Cervantes Jr, USA Today, 15 Mar. 2026
Verb
To test if soil is loamy, take a fistful with a gloved hand and ball it up in your palm.
—Nadia Hassani, The Spruce, 16 Feb. 2026
These are the romance movies that lean into big emotions, meaningful connections, and the kind of love that lingers long after the credits roll — and will likely leave you balling your eyes out.
—Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 30 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ball
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ball
Verb
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Round 1 is conducted the first day, followed by rounds 2-3 on the second day and rounds 4-7 on the third day.—
Kirk Kenney,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
11 Mar. 2026
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The list is rounded out by solo men Buck Owens, Willie Nelson, Luke Bryan and Morgan Wallen and duos Florida Georgia Line and Dan + Shay.—
Russ Penuell,
Billboard,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
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From the get-go, the good times rolled, the stardust fell like a meteor shower (everyone from Nelson Mandela to Catherine Deneuve, Charlize Theron, and the Gipsy Kings).—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
14 Mar. 2026
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Simply break out into two teams, and roll the four bocce balls toward the jack without displacing it.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
13 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ball.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ball. Accessed 16 Mar. 2026.
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