Synonyms
Examples of dole in a Sentence
Bryce Covert, The New Republic, 20 Aug. 2021
Too many American workers have become layabouts living off the government dole.
—Jacob Silverman, The New Republic, 11 May 2021
The author of that piece criticized the Social Security Administration for not updating a listing of jobs that benefit applicants might be able to do instead of going on the government dole collecting disability benefits.
—Tom Margenau, Dallas News, 29 Jan. 2023
As recently as 2017, a dole of about 100 baby loggerhead turtles emerged from their eggs and began their journey from the sand to the sea on Assateague Island National Seashore.
—Kristian Jaime, Baltimore Sun, 25 July 2022
As with other American officials feted in Azerbaijan on the regime’s dole, Cuellar routinely stumped for Azeri oil interests—helping the regime profit that much further.
—Casey Michel, The New Republic, 26 Jan. 2022
Old Republic utilizes a two-part dividend system that sees the insurer pay out a regular dole, as well as annual special payouts based on its profits for the year.
—Brett Owens, Forbes, 31 Oct. 2021
Under Aquino, the government expanded a program that provides cash dole-outs to the poor in exchange for commitments by parents to ensure their children would attend classes and receive government health care.
—NBC News, 24 June 2021
Furthermore, many arguments for repealing the $600 boost retread the old stereotype of a jobless worker on the government dole.
—CNN, 8 July 2020
Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 28 Mar. 2024
Sinema could give the money back to her donors, give it to charity or dole it out to other campaigns.
—Ronald J. Hansen, The Arizona Republic, 27 Mar. 2024
Audit: Library resources need more equity June 29, 2016
Each year, city officials study demographics, income statistics and branch usage data to determine how to dole that money out.
—David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Feb. 2024
The city has two bodies that dole them out: the Development Authority of Fulton County, or DAFC, and Invest Atlanta, the city’s economic development agency.
—Christine Wen, The Conversation, 15 Feb. 2024
During the recent work stoppages, MPTF received north of 13,000 incoming calls and doled more than $8 million in assistance.
—Chris Gardner, The Hollywood Reporter, 14 Jan. 2024
On visits home, Harris stuffs bags full of herbs from her garden, doling them out to staff members and military aides on Air Force Two on the five-hour ride back to Washington.
—Courtney Subramanian, Los Angeles Times, 7 Jan. 2024
Critics say the city’s pension system, which is facing more than $3 billion in debt, should invest the bonus money to help reduce that debt instead of doling it out to eligible retirees.
—David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Dec. 2023
In past years, when news breaks of luxury gift bags being doled as freebies, headlines inevitably surface about the tax liabilities incurred by recipients.
—Chris Gardner, The Hollywood Reporter, 22 Dec. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'dole.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Noun (1) and Verb
Middle English, from Old English dāl portion — more at deal entry 3
Noun (2)
Middle English dol, from Anglo-French duel, dol, from Late Latin dolus, alteration of Latin dolor — see dolor
Noun (1)
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2
Verb
15th century, in the meaning defined above
Noun (2)
13th century, in the meaning defined above
Phrases Containing dole
Dictionary Entries Near dole
Cite this Entry
“Dole.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dole. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.
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Kids Definition
Biographical Definition
Dole
2 of 2biographical name (2)
More from Merriam-Webster on dole
Nglish: Translation of dole for Spanish Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about dole
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