drivel

verb

driv·​el ˈdri-vəl 

driveled or drivelled; driveling or drivelling ˈdri-v(ə-)liŋ 

intransitive verb

1

: to talk stupidly and carelessly

What is he driveling about now?

2

: to let saliva dribble from the mouth : slaver

driveler

ˈdri-v(ə-)lər 

noun

Synonyms of drivel

• drool
• spit

Examples of drivel in a Sentence

What is he driveling about now?

the panting dog driveled on my hand

Recent Examples on the Web

High-profile right-wing accounts that previously served as yes-men for Musk—such as Ian Miles Cheong, a Malaysian who purportedly lives in the United Arab Emirates and posts incessant, racist drivel about American politics—have melted down over the platform’s decision to dox users. —Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 24 Nov. 2025

In the painting Meaningless, 2003, for example, the words meaningless, senseless, and irrelevant eventually give way to blather, blabber, babble, then to drivel and drool, and, finally, to blah-blah-blah. —Jeffrey Weiss, Artforum, 1 May 2025

Our campuses are a mess — citadels of conformism and drivel. —Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 19 Dec. 2023

Gretchen Bender superimposes potent phrases or ideas onto television screens blaring out the usual stream of nonsense, drivel and enticement. —Philip Kennicott, Washington Post, 6 Apr. 2023

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English dreflian; perhaps akin to Old Norse draf malt dregs

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for drivel

• civil
• divil
• shrivel
• swivel
• uncivil

Kids Definition

drivel

1 of 2 verb

driv·​el ˈdriv-əl 

driveled or drivelled; driveling or drivelling -(ə-)liŋ 

1

: to let saliva dribble from the mouth : slobber

2

: to talk stupidly

driveler noun

or driveller

-(ə-)lər

drivel

2 of 2 noun

: nonsense sense 1