BALLS Synonyms: 80 Similar and Opposite Words

balls 1 of 3

noun (1)

plural of ball

as in spheres

a more or less round body or mass the little rubber ball used in racquetball a ball of string

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in bullets

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

blanks

balls

2 of 3

noun (2)

plural of ball

as in dances

a social gathering for dancing a ball to celebrate the inauguration

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balls

3 of 3

verb

present tense third-person singular of ball

as in rounds

to form into a round compact mass balled up the paper and threw it at the garbage can

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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 balls

Noun

The ticket matched four white balls and the red Powerball in the Powerball drawing on Wednesday, July 15, according to the Idaho Lottery and the National Powerball website. — Hali Smith, Idaho Statesman, 16 July 2026 Dim sum raves transform historic teahouses into energetic spaces where partygoers eat dim sum beneath disco balls. — Sam Flemming, AJC.com, 15 July 2026 Meanwhile, raging forest fires and a red-alert heat wave are shaking up France’s biggest national holiday, forcing the cancellation of traditional fireworks and firefighters’ balls. — ABC News, 14 July 2026 The jackpot grew after the most recent drawing on Monday, July 13 failed to get a winner who matched all six balls. — Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 14 July 2026 Dry your duvet cover on low heat with a set of wool dryer balls to promote even drying. — Caroline Lubinsky, Martha Stewart, 14 July 2026 The left-handed slugger was mashing balls into the stratosphere, bashing nine to set the tone against Contreras. — Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 14 July 2026 As many as four balls can be in play in multi-ball mode, and the cameras can track up to five players concurrently from fingertips to legs, analyzing shot trajectory, backspins, court positions and scoring. — Shirl Leigh july 13, New Atlas, 13 July 2026 Mbappe broke the deadlock in the 45th minute, and Olise got two delightful assists with through balls for Mbappe and Barcola to finish in an emphatic second-half display. — Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 11 July 2026

Verb

Bassey signs, Ike balls out An hour after the Warriors officially signed reserve center Charles Bassey to a one-year deal, Graham Ike did his best to show that the backup center position should still be considered in flux. — Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 10 July 2026 The second and third outs were called third strikes, both of them initially balls before All-Star catcher Realmuto challenged through the Automated Ball-Strike System (ABS), or so called robot umpires, that will be used in the regular season for the first time this year. — CBS News, 6 Mar. 2026 Arrange dough balls 2 inches apart on prepared cookie sheets. — Holly Riordan, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 Mar. 2026 Each team received their shipment of logo balls several weeks ago from the Wilson factory so that equipment managers would be able to properly prepare the footballs for their respective offenses. — Kristi Scales jan. 5, Dallas Morning News, 5 Jan. 2026 Place balls 3 inches apart on 3 large baking sheets lined with parchment paper (about 12 cookies per sheet). — Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 27 Nov. 2025 Defense overall just balls Two. — Miami Herald, 26 Oct. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for balls

Noun

Japan’s monarchy has for centuries maintained male-only succession, which is on-brand for a deeply patriarchal society where men dominate other spheres of life such as business and politics.

— Hanako Montgomery, CNN Money, 14 July 2026
According to the agency’s preliminary investigation, the spheres are pressure vessels from a space launch vehicle.

— Drew Pittock, USA Today, 8 July 2026

Definition of spheres

Noun

Roughly a month before Kirk’s killing, Twiggs said Robinson asked for a Dremel, a tool used for sanding or grinding, to engrave bullets for an upcoming family hunting trip.

— Nicki Brown, CNN Money, 11 July 2026
Without superpowers or magic to fall back on, heroes had to rely on little more than implausible levels of ingenuity and resilience, a capacity to dodge bullets/laser fire, and a gift for making the right quip at the right time.

— Richard Edwards, Space.com, 11 July 2026

Definition of bullets

Noun

Once known best for her #MomTok dances, the 33-year-old Brigham Young University fine arts graduate and mother of three in 2025 successfully collapsed the boundary between creator culture and traditional entertainment.

— Emma Barker Bonomo, Time, 14 July 2026
The transitions from dialogue to songs to dances to corny one-liners is so fluid that the show is like one long dance.

— Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 6 July 2026

Definition of dances

Verb

Canada, a little unlucky to lose so heavily, has made history this summer after making the knockout rounds for the first time and will have undoubtedly spread joy and inspired a new generation in the country.

— Ben Church, CNN Money, 5 July 2026
Throughout the tournament’s history, hosts have hugely overperformed at the World Cup, reaching knockout rounds 91% of the time, semifinals 57%, and the championship 26%.

— Michael Morris, Time, 1 July 2026

Definition of rounds

Noun

In another Amsterdam photo, a pair of identical world globes, recalling Ghirri’s passion for cartography and atlases, rest on matching supports to conjure that oldest of surrealist tropes, a pair of staring eyes.

— James Quandt, Artforum, 2 June 2026
Besides dusting, this includes wiping off the lightbulbs, removing any light globes to wash and dry them, and wiping dust from the fan’s motor and pull chain with a microfiber cloth.

— Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 14 May 2026

Definition of globes

Noun

The capital’s traditional Independence Day show had 10,000 shells lasting 18 minutes.

— Bart Jansen, USA Today, 5 July 2026
Organizers said the display featured three times as many fireworks shells as in previous years — the largest fireworks Stars & Stripes show to date.

— Sophia Buonpane, Kansas City Star, 5 July 2026

Definition of shells

Noun

Dunkin’ Prom, which funds alternative proms for teens who may have missed theirs for medical reasons and lastly, grants to customize hospital spaces to create joy.

— Zuri Primos June 29, Kansas City Star, 29 June 2026
Their stores specialize in dresses for proms, weddings, special occasions and quinceañeras.

— Ruben Vives, Los Angeles Times, 7 June 2026

Definition of proms

Verb

The transporter-erector, meanwhile, rolls the rocket to the pad before lifting it vertically into position ahead of launch.

— Chris Young July 12, New Atlas, 13 July 2026
The menu is built for sharing, with dishes like samosa chaat, okra fries and kati rolls that balance spice, crunch and bright flavor.

— Evan Moore July 9, Charlotte Observer, 9 July 2026