Definition of barrelnext
1
as in ton
a considerable amount a visit to an amusement park should be a barrel of laughs

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
as in tin
a metal container in the shape of a cylinder a trash barrel

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3
as in pipe
an enclosed wooden vessel for holding beverages barrels of fine wine aging in the winery's cellar

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barrel

2 of 2

verb

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 barrel
Noun
At the time of writing, Brent crude is back up to $78 a barrel, meaningfully above its pre-war level of a little under $70. Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 13 July 2026 Sussman experimented with different profiles, extraction rates, proofs, and other factors before settling on the final staves, which were put into barrels of whiskey to finish for about six weeks and presumably add new flavor. Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 13 July 2026
Verb
Every so often, a lone car or pickup would come barreling down the highway, hurtle past the protesters and vanish. Pamela Colloff, ProPublica, 30 June 2026 For instance, Starlink was recently offered to residents of Jamaica and the Bahamas in October 2025 when Hurricane Melissa barreled through the region. Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 29 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for barrel
Recent Examples of Synonyms for barrel
Noun
  • According to the press statement, the project is anchored by over 400,000 structural steel piles manufactured by PACO Steel, using 142,000 tons of steel coils from US Steel’s nearby Big River facility.
    Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 16 July 2026
  • That earlier picture made a ton of money, and The Odyssey clearly has even broader appeal as an epic poem that many, many people encountered as required reading.
    Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 16 July 2026
Noun
  • Local governments have opened emergency shelters, which have been nearing capacity, as residents in low-lying areas and those living in wood and tin homes have especially sought refuge.
    Kristin Wright, NPR, 5 July 2026
  • Fortunately, that something can be as easy as spicing it with ginger, perfuming it with florals or smoke, or easier still and our favorite version, adding a grapefruit peel to the shaker tin before shaking on ice.
    Jeremy Repanich, Robb Report, 4 July 2026
Noun
  • This is 1920s barging when everyone else has pipes that are secure, that are new, that go directly into the ships.
    CBS Miami Team, CBS News, 12 July 2026
  • Seal cracks, gaps around doors and windows, gaps around garden hose pipes, and other entry points where ants may enter buildings.
    The San Diego Union Tribune, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 July 2026
Verb
  • Moments later the Tesla Model 3 raced down a residential street in Katy, Texas, at highway speeds, slammed into a brick home and killed a 76-year-old woman standing in the front room.
    Bernard Condon, Fortune, 16 July 2026
  • Jordan Cvetanovski, chairman and chief investment officer at Pella Funds, said demand for AI infrastructure remains strong as companies race to build computing capacity, but signs of speculative excess are beginning to emerge.
    Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 15 July 2026
Noun
  • Engineering experts said the conversion project is complex and poses many challenges, which include making sure older buildings can safely support new loads and carving up office floors to accommodate residential living.
    ABC News, ABC News, 10 July 2026
  • More crucially, Illinois’ grid is well-equipped to deliver the large electrical loads needed to process AI and other data.
    Scott Cohn, CNBC, 9 July 2026
Noun
  • Add 1 cup of hydrogen peroxide to the washer drum or the automatic bleach dispenser before loading white clothes into the washer.
    Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 14 July 2026
  • Several years after forming, Morbid Angel recorded their first-ever album, Abominations of Desolation, with Browning on lead vocals and drums.
    Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 14 July 2026
Verb
  • The driver of the Ford then ran over the woman and sped away.
    Devoun Cetoute, Miami Herald, 10 July 2026
  • That’s nearly seven times faster than a speeding bullet, according to NASA.
    Amen Galinato, CNN Money, 10 July 2026
Noun
  • Jones has received endorsements from at least a dozen Black clergy.
    Raisa Habersham, Miami Herald, 16 July 2026
  • Last week torrential rains triggered deadly mudslides and flooding in Cox’s Bazar, flattening shelters and killing more than a dozen people, including children.
    Lex Harvey, CNN Money, 16 July 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Barrel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/barrel. Accessed 18 Jul. 2026.

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