1
as in stack
a quantity of things thrown or stacked on one another
a large pile of newspapers that needed to be disposed of
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in loads
a considerable amount
a job that paid piles of money
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in bundle
a very large amount of money
she made a pile in the stock market just before it headed south
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
1
2
as in to huddle
to gather into a closely packed group
the kids piled into the car
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of pile
Edmund H. Mahony, Hartford Courant, 27 Mar. 2026
The study, from researchers at the University of Adelaide in Australia, is just the latest addition to a growing pile of evidence that suggests mammalian reproduction in space might be quite complicated, if not impossible.
—Tereza Pultarova, Space.com, 27 Mar. 2026
Roberta Mercuri, Vanity Fair, 24 Mar. 2026
As the last part of its name implied, the flounder was golden brown and piled up, hiding a bed of crinkle cut french fries, which was hiding a puddle of creamy coleslaw.
—Andre James, Charlotte Observer, 23 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pile
Noun
State police later searched the area near the steel bridge and found among the piles of wood chips an envelope bearing the victim’s name, pieces of bone and tissue, a human fingernail and crowns to the victim’s teeth, prosecutors said.
—Edmund H. Mahony, Hartford Courant, 27 Mar. 2026
The study, from researchers at the University of Adelaide in Australia, is just the latest addition to a growing pile of evidence that suggests mammalian reproduction in space might be quite complicated, if not impossible.
—Tereza Pultarova, Space.com, 27 Mar. 2026
Verb
New chapters keep piling onto the Beckham family saga.
—Roberta Mercuri, Vanity Fair, 24 Mar. 2026
As the last part of its name implied, the flounder was golden brown and piled up, hiding a bed of crinkle cut french fries, which was hiding a puddle of creamy coleslaw.
—Andre James, Charlotte Observer, 23 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pile
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pile
Verb
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To stack the deck further, and to spur their champion into action, the writers throw in a sinister trio of private-equity investors who might as well arrive twirling their mustaches.—
Inkoo Kang,
New Yorker,
27 Mar. 2026
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For the second time since the 1980s, the Royals stacked together consecutive winning seasons.—
Sam McDowell,
Kansas City Star,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Now, viral video footage of a group of dogs stranded on the side of a busy roadway in China has drawn plenty of comparisons to the story, showing a reminiscent group of household critters huddling together.—
Victor Tangermann,
Futurism,
26 Mar. 2026
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Twin Lakes also stand out, huddled in their alpine embrace and flanked by proud granite slopes.—
Madison Chapman,
Outside,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
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For more than 20 years, OCPS has been building new schools to relieve crowding on existing ones, as student enrollment grew rapidly.—
Steven Walker,
The Orlando Sentinel,
31 Mar. 2026
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Thirteen candidates crowded into this overwhelmingly blue district’s primary.—
David Daley,
Chicago Tribune,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
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For the next two hours, the whales remained bunched together.—
Elizabeth Kolbert,
New Yorker,
26 Mar. 2026
-
The pleats are made from multiple fabric folds and bunched together to create fullness.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
17 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pile.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pile. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
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