as in distributes
to give out (something) to appropriate individuals
she doles out office supplies as if she were paying for them out of her own pocket
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Recent Examples of doles out
Football is king in the SEC and dictates the buckets of television money the conference doles out.
—
Justin Williams, New York Times, 25 Mar. 2026
Through a combination of buttery-smooth fabric, mighty arch support, impact-absorbing memory foam, and the kind of curved, rocker-like outsole that doles out both traction and momentum on any surface.
—Rudolf Obias, Footwear News, 3 Mar. 2026
At times, his social role will overlap with that of other weight-room regulars, not least of which is the gym grandpa, who hangs around and shoots the breeze and doles out tips on how to lift.
—Daniel Engber, The Atlantic, 20 Feb. 2026
Lambert’s script doles out details in small measures, requiring patience from her audience.
—Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 22 Jan. 2026
Its revenue-distribution model doles out more to the SEC and Big Ten than the Atlantic Coast and Big 12, among the power conferences.
—Arkansas Online, 19 Jan. 2026
Rob Hale, founder and CEO of telecommunications company Granite Communications, annually doles out $1,000 checks to local recent college graduates in Massachusetts.
—Sydney Lake, Fortune, 29 Dec. 2025
In total, the New York City Marathon doles out $969,000 in prize money, including $534,000 total to the men’s and women’s top-10 finishers, and $118,000 total to the top-five American finishers.
—Bette Canter, Sportico.com, 2 Nov. 2025
Passed 50 years ago, IDEA doles out billions of dollars annually to states, and then to school districts, which use the money to help pay for special education services.
—Zachary Schermele, USA Today, 19 Oct. 2025
Justin Williams, New York Times, 25 Mar. 2026
Through a combination of buttery-smooth fabric, mighty arch support, impact-absorbing memory foam, and the kind of curved, rocker-like outsole that doles out both traction and momentum on any surface.
—Rudolf Obias, Footwear News, 3 Mar. 2026
At times, his social role will overlap with that of other weight-room regulars, not least of which is the gym grandpa, who hangs around and shoots the breeze and doles out tips on how to lift.
—Daniel Engber, The Atlantic, 20 Feb. 2026
Lambert’s script doles out details in small measures, requiring patience from her audience.
—Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 22 Jan. 2026
Its revenue-distribution model doles out more to the SEC and Big Ten than the Atlantic Coast and Big 12, among the power conferences.
—Arkansas Online, 19 Jan. 2026
Rob Hale, founder and CEO of telecommunications company Granite Communications, annually doles out $1,000 checks to local recent college graduates in Massachusetts.
—Sydney Lake, Fortune, 29 Dec. 2025
In total, the New York City Marathon doles out $969,000 in prize money, including $534,000 total to the men’s and women’s top-10 finishers, and $118,000 total to the top-five American finishers.
—Bette Canter, Sportico.com, 2 Nov. 2025
Passed 50 years ago, IDEA doles out billions of dollars annually to states, and then to school districts, which use the money to help pay for special education services.
—Zachary Schermele, USA Today, 19 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for doles out
Verb
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Universal Pictures distributes the film.—
Wilson Chapman,
IndieWire,
25 Mar. 2026
-
Founded in 2005, the Wagner Foundation distributes more than forty cultural and arts grants annually, partnering with local organizations and with arts organizations across the country.—
News Desk,
Artforum,
24 Mar. 2026
Verb
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First seen at a night-club table of menacing lowlifes, Ida, whose mother tongue is Brooklynese, suddenly switches to a heavy British accent and dispenses a torrent of highly literary sarcasms.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
4 Mar. 2026
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Of course, the real issue isn’t advice itself, but rather the wisdom of whomever dispenses it—and finding them in the first place is harder to admitting someone else’s opinion just may be savvier than your own.—
Mark Ellwood,
Robb Report,
3 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Blakespear recognizes Women Who Inspire in Senate District 38, while Boerner hands out Women of Impact awards in the 77th Assembly District.—
Noah Lyons,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
15 Mar. 2026
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The country’s economic crimes unit has opened a corruption investigation into former Prime Minister Thorbjørn Jagland — who also once headed the committee that hands out the Nobel Peace Prize — over his ties with Epstein.—
Jill Lawless,
Fortune,
7 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Through adoptions, education, outreach, and field services, the shelter provides critical support to promote responsible pet care in the community.—
Janay Reece,
CBS News,
29 Mar. 2026
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This extreme volatility provides a critical opportunity for industry leaders to look beyond surface-level price swings and focus on the fundamental constraints actually driving the market.—
Siddharth Misra,
Fortune,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Druski's skit divides social media In the skit, Druski is seen portraying a white woman with blonde hair, which viewers compared to Erica Kirk, the widow of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.—
Taylor Ardrey,
USA Today,
26 Mar. 2026
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The river supplies drinking water and irrigation to tens of millions of people across the West, but the system that divides its water, based on agreements more than a century old, is under increasing strain after years of drought and declining reservoir levels.—
Amalia Roy,
FOXNews.com,
22 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Federal dollars are also given to the Texas Workforce Commission, which then allocates the money to 28 local workforce development boards across the state.—
Jess Huff,
Los Angeles Times,
27 Mar. 2026
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Texas allocates money to districts based on student attendance.—
Jessica Ma,
Dallas Morning News,
27 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Doles out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/doles%20out. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
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