DOLING (OUT) Synonyms: 61 Similar and Opposite Words

doling out

verb

present participle of dole out

as in distributing

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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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 doling out To mark 42 years of doling out deals, the rapidly-expanding big box store is marking down a whole bunch of items by the very appropriate amount of 42%. — Melissa Locker, Southern Living, 22 Sep. 2026 In context of supination, this means minimizing the possibility of injuries; doling out a smoother, plusher ride; and kicking underpronation’s common side effects (think plantar fasciitis, ankle pain, and shin splints) to the curb. — Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 18 Sep. 2026 The investigation in Loretto was sparked after the West Side safety net hospital came under fire for improperly doling out COVID-19 vaccinations soon after the shots became available. — Jason Meisner, Chicago Tribune, 31 Aug. 2026 The White House has continued doling out tariffs despite the ruling. — Kevin Breuninger,jeff Cox, CNBC, 31 Aug. 2026 Straight Talk As a radio-show therapist doling out wisdom in 1992’s Straight Talk, Parton brought a lot of her own experiences to the big screen. — Jack Smart, PEOPLE, 25 Aug. 2026 The Dodgers, to their credit, have built a great team—not only by doling out huge salaries but by building an élite development program. — Diego Lasarte, New Yorker, 9 Aug. 2026 Online, influencers in the looksmaxxing space have leveraged other men's insecurities to enormous fame while doling out aesthetic advice with little, if any, credentials. — Charles Trepany, USA Today, 7 Aug. 2026 While other kids his age were doling out loot bags stuffed with Bazooka bubble gum and slap bracelets, Lovett was recording his favorite music on cassette tapes as party favors. — Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 25 July 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for doling out

Verb

Under the White House pool system, the networks -- ABC, CBS, CNN, Fox News and NBC -- rotate responsibilities for gathering and distributing footage of the president's daily movements.

— Miriam Waldvogel, Arkansas Online, 12 Oct. 2026
At a church in Pensacola where the United Cajun Navy was distributing supplies Sunday morning, a line of hundreds of cars stretched around the block.

— Sophie Bates, Los Angeles Times, 11 Oct. 2026

Definition of distributing

Verb

Dressings and sauces in dispensing bottles did not have the common name of the foods.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 12 Oct. 2026
Eco effort The resort is actively addressing concerns regarding single-use plastic bottles and is working to introduce water dispensing units in the near future.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of dispensing

Verb

Now, the city leaders plan to celebrate Prisco's Family Market Friday, with a party showcasing some of their vendors, handing out free hot dogs and issuing a special proclamation.

— Sara Machi, CBS News, 14 Oct. 2026
There were pictures of him handing out blankets in northern Syria—but also of him sitting in a tent with a Kalashnikov at his feet.

— Ben Taub, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of handing out

Verb

At the bottom is the emerald-green pool, providing guests with welcome respite from the heat.

— Julia Wytrazek, TheWeek, 13 Oct. 2026
As the film tells it, Simmers eventually learns that waging war against dealers and community enablers makes less of an impact on people who are addicted than providing them consistent, patient, loving support.

— Todd Gilchrist, Variety, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of providing

Verb

In the accompanying video (above), Kondo also describes an ambition to coordinate multiple drones, sharing observations and dividing search tasks.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 11 Oct. 2026
Since rates are computed by dividing the number of cases by the population at risk in a specified time period, then by definition, if the number of cases stays the same but the size of the denominator shrinks, the rates will be higher.

— Nancy Krieger, STAT, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of dividing

Verb

So to say that another way, plants are taking up all of this carbon from our atmosphere and then allocating about thirteen billion tons of that to networks every year.

— Quanta Magazine, Quanta Magazine, 15 Oct. 2026
This funding has helped, but allocating more money to public schools isn’t the only way to make progress.

— Colin Pascal, Baltimore Sun, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of allocating

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doles out

doling out

doll

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“Doling out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/doling%20out. Accessed 19 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of doling out

verb

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