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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of ball
ABC News, 13 June 2026
The ball ricocheted off him to his left, where second baseman Santiago Espinal made a last-ditch effort to salvage the play but couldn’t pick up the ball cleanly.
—Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 13 June 2026
Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 25 Apr. 2026
Some Cypress Village residents are beseeching the city to keep it that way, even as the HOA applies to let the pickle balling resume.
—Teri Sforza, Oc Register, 24 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ball
Noun
Seattle cut its deficit to 71-70 and had the ball, but Flau’jae Johnson's layup attempt rolled off the rim.
—ABC News, 13 June 2026
The ball ricocheted off him to his left, where second baseman Santiago Espinal made a last-ditch effort to salvage the play but couldn’t pick up the ball cleanly.
—Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 13 June 2026
Verb
Bryce Young was balling though.
—Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 25 Apr. 2026
Some Cypress Village residents are beseeching the city to keep it that way, even as the HOA applies to let the pickle balling resume.
—Teri Sforza, Oc Register, 24 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ball
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ball
Noun
-
The witness said a second sphere appeared before both objects departed silently.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
12 June 2026
-
In his hands, that old chop-socky cliché where a circle of ninjas challenges the hero one at a time becomes a sphere of ninjas simultaneously engulfing the hero from above and below.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
11 June 2026
Noun
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Fortunately for the Cubs’ shortstop, Popovich’s aim was as wild as her mane of chestnut hair; one bullet struck his right hand, another struck his left, and a third shot nicked him on the right side, but nowhere near a vital organ.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
8 June 2026
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Twelve people were struck by bullets, including two who were critically injured, during a shooting near a popular neighborhood festival in Toledo, Ohio, on Saturday, June 6, city officials said at a news conference.—
Anthony Thompson,
USA Today,
7 June 2026
Noun
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Attendees enjoyed classic dishes like pancit and lumpia alongside musical performances and traditional folk dances by legacy Filipino American cultural organizations from across the South Bay.—
Ryan Macasero,
Mercury News,
13 June 2026
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In addition to dance, Audriana has also modeled with her sister Milania.—
Jamie Ballard,
PEOPLE,
12 June 2026
Verb
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Both on the same team would force some difficult decisions for opposing offenses, especially with Turner, Byron Young and Braden Fiske rounding out the pass rush.—
Adam Grosbard,
Oc Register,
9 June 2026
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And nuts — almonds, walnuts, hazelnuts — along with vegetables like artichokes, broccoli and eggplant round out a diet where fiber shows up naturally at breakfast, lunch and dinner.—
Ryan Brennan
June 9,
Miami Herald,
9 June 2026
Noun
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McGuire will meet most of Cascale’s globe-spanning operational team for the first time at the organization’s annual meeting in Athens in September.—
Jasmin Malik Chua,
Footwear News,
12 June 2026
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Experts said the El Nino, a natural warming cycle, should further heat a globe already warming from fossil fuel pollution and will likely turbocharge extreme weather across the planet.—
Seth Borenstein,
Chicago Tribune,
11 June 2026
Noun
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In a search of Jennings’ home after his arrest, authorities found multiple firearms, rifles and dozens of rounds of ammunition.—
Seamus Bozeman
Follow,
Los Angeles Times,
9 June 2026
-
Gaethje let go of all dignity by targeting that personal drama into fight-week ammunition.—
Alejandro Avila OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
9 June 2026
Noun
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Nearly two years later, Brunson posted pictures of the two attending their senior prom together on Instagram in May 2015.—
Skyler Caruso,
PEOPLE,
12 June 2026
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One week after Clintondale High School canceled its prom, community members and volunteers have put together an event.—
Julia Avant,
CBS News,
9 June 2026
Verb
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This is protection for investors, and this also is saving them transaction fees on, for example, rolling contracts.—
Eleanor Mueller,
semafor.com,
12 June 2026
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Then Jaimoe pauses, flashes a quick, playful grin, and rolls his right pant leg up to his knee.—
David Browne,
Rolling Stone,
12 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ball.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ball. Accessed 15 Jun. 2026.
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