1
as in spheres
a more or less round body or mass
the little rubber ball used in racquetball a ball of string
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in dances
a social gathering for dancing
a ball to celebrate the inauguration
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of balls
Fernando Cervantes Jr, USA Today, 28 Feb. 2026
The mammals, which can get as big as 800 pounds, will balance balls, shoot hoops, dance, do handstands and more.
—Kevin Lyttle, Austin American Statesman, 27 Feb. 2026
Acceptable donation items include sports balls, baseball bats, rubber batting tees, softball and baseball masks and mitts, hockey and lacrosse sticks, tennis and racquetball rackets and cleats.
—Michelle Mullins, Chicago Tribune, 26 Feb. 2026
How to play the Powerball To play, select five numbers from 1 to 69 for the white balls, then select one number from 1 to 26 for the red Powerball.
—Lorenzino Estrada, AZCentral.com, 26 Feb. 2026
In the early years of her Letter From Paris, her subjects included masked balls, gallery openings, and new additions to the cocktail menu at the Ritz.
—Casey Schwartz, The Atlantic, 26 Feb. 2026
In a frenetic powerplay, West Indies lost four wickets in 10 balls and was down to 52-4.
—ABC News, 26 Feb. 2026
Old Ping Pong Balls Ping pong balls are coated with a highly flammable material that burns quickly and can be explosive, says Swan.
—Louise Parks, Martha Stewart, 26 Feb. 2026
The central room features a world map made of red glass balls, ignoring political borders and using the Gall-Peters rectangular, equal-area map projection to challenge traditional power dynamics in cartography.
—Andrea Onate, Footwear News, 25 Feb. 2026
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
Arrange the dough balls 2 inches apart on the prepared cookie sheets.
—Elizabeth Fogarty, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Oct. 2025
Defense overall just balls Two.
—Miami Herald, 26 Oct. 2025
Noun
Each ticket costs $5, and players may pick six numbers from two separate pools of numbers - five different numbers from 1 to 70 (the white balls) and one number from 1 to 24 (the gold Mega Ball) - or select Easy Pick/Quick Pick.
—Fernando Cervantes Jr, USA Today, 28 Feb. 2026
The mammals, which can get as big as 800 pounds, will balance balls, shoot hoops, dance, do handstands and more.
—Kevin Lyttle, Austin American Statesman, 27 Feb. 2026
Acceptable donation items include sports balls, baseball bats, rubber batting tees, softball and baseball masks and mitts, hockey and lacrosse sticks, tennis and racquetball rackets and cleats.
—Michelle Mullins, Chicago Tribune, 26 Feb. 2026
How to play the Powerball To play, select five numbers from 1 to 69 for the white balls, then select one number from 1 to 26 for the red Powerball.
—Lorenzino Estrada, AZCentral.com, 26 Feb. 2026
In the early years of her Letter From Paris, her subjects included masked balls, gallery openings, and new additions to the cocktail menu at the Ritz.
—Casey Schwartz, The Atlantic, 26 Feb. 2026
In a frenetic powerplay, West Indies lost four wickets in 10 balls and was down to 52-4.
—ABC News, 26 Feb. 2026
Old Ping Pong Balls Ping pong balls are coated with a highly flammable material that burns quickly and can be explosive, says Swan.
—Louise Parks, Martha Stewart, 26 Feb. 2026
The central room features a world map made of red glass balls, ignoring political borders and using the Gall-Peters rectangular, equal-area map projection to challenge traditional power dynamics in cartography.
—Andrea Onate, Footwear News, 25 Feb. 2026
Verb
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
Arrange the dough balls 2 inches apart on the prepared cookie sheets.
—Elizabeth Fogarty, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Oct. 2025
Defense overall just balls Two.
—Miami Herald, 26 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for balls
Verb
-
An acupuncture clinic occupies the basement floor, a periodontist operates on the third, and a hair salon rounds out the offerings.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
27 Feb. 2026
-
Florida Panthers star winger Matthew Tkachuk made his celebratory rounds the past few days since the United States men’s hockey team returned from Milan and the 2026 Winter Olympics with gold medals.—
Jordan McPherson,
Miami Herald,
26 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The Riverside County Transportation Commission took a similar position for the 91 Express Lanes portion that rolls along in that county.—
Jim Radcliffe,
Oc Register,
27 Feb. 2026
-
When rocket assembly is complete, the CT-2 rolls beneath the platform, lifts it and the rocket, and moves them slowly to the launch pad.—
George Petras,
USA Today,
25 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Balls.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/balls. Accessed 3 Mar. 2026.
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