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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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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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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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

These casual spaces will draw you in with the aroma of baked cheese, usually with a barrel of buñuelos (perfectly round, crisp cheese balls) frying at the entrance. — Nikkita Nair, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Oct. 2026 Place two to four balls in the skillet or on the griddle, spacing them about 3 inches apart. — ABC News, 7 Oct. 2026 Obscenities, the referee’s whistle, and the thud of boots into balls—and sometimes shins—easily carry across these desolate fields. — Vanda Mayer, New Yorker, 6 Oct. 2026 The balls also came in several translucent colors and were full of colorful water beads and glitter. — Eva Flowe october 6, Charlotte Observer, 6 Oct. 2026 At the time, the National Baseball Hall of Fame only had two final-out balls. — Los Angeles Times, 6 Oct. 2026 Patrick Mahomes completed a couple of deep balls, to Xavier Worthy and Thorton, who each caught four passes. — Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 5 Oct. 2026 Most of his production came from receiver Malik Washington, who caught five balls for 67 yards. — Miami Herald, 5 Oct. 2026 Taking them off at the end of each day is a painful process that involves rubbing alcohol and a light scalping that leaves behind stubborn balls of latex in my hair. — Kyle MacLachlan, HollywoodReporter, 29 Sep. 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

Wagyu beef and lamb koobideh are formed into bite-size, plump spheres doused in a sweet tomato and sumac glaze.

— Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026
Growers commonly use sticky traps, often tapes or red spheres that resemble ripening apples, along with chemical or food-based lures, to attract adult flies.

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 29 Sep. 2026

Definition of spheres

Verb

Tyson Bagent is Williams’ usual backup, while the journeyman Keenum rounds out the depth in the room.

— Scott Thompson OutKick, FOXNews.com, 29 Sep. 2026
Hyatt Regency Aruba rounds out its culinary offerings with a juice bar and pizza truck on the beach, a breakfast buffet, an outdoor café, and a pier serving cocktails and light snacks.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 26 Sep. 2026

Definition of rounds

Noun

With the fan and light turned off, check for loose globes, shades, bulbs, finials, or other decorative pieces.

— Tricia Goss, Southern Living, 28 Sep. 2026
Most globes take between a few weeks and a few months to make, and each is a work of art, customized for clients with family histories, past travels, migration routes, and personalized themes.

— Clare Coulson, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Sep. 2026

Definition of globes

Noun

The buildings themselves were not empty shells; they were established assets with real tenants.

— Khalifa Aldhaheri, Forbes.com, 1 Oct. 2026
Others, including a company making electronic fuzes for shells used in Gaza, and another that manufactures parts for Israeli tanks, came after.

— Allegra Goodwin, CNN Money, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of shells

Noun

In addition to showing up everywhere, from festivals to parades and weddings to proms, the Wienermobile has also helped people, including Drew Barrymore, celebrate their birthdays over the decades with special stops made in their honor.

— Stacy Lambe, PEOPLE, 31 July 2026
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

Definition of proms

Verb

Maine-style lobster rolls traditionally consist of cold lobster meat, either tossed in mayo or served with mayo on the side.

— Sadie Chafe, FOXNews.com, 29 Sep. 2026
Accusations of fraud have been the reasoning for doge’s evisceration of the federal workforce, ice’s occupation of Minneapolis, and, just last week, the removal of three-quarters of a million people from the Affordable Care Act rolls.

— Jelani Cobb, New Yorker, 27 Sep. 2026

Definition of rolls

Cite this Entry

Style

“Balls.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/balls. Accessed 8 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of balls

noun (1)

noun (2)

verb

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