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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Recent Examples of doling out
The version of Senate Bill 270 that passed by the House 61-35 will require mergers for townships that don't meet certain performance criteria, such as doling out township assistance or meeting other regulatory requirements.
—
Kaitlin Lange, IndyStar, 25 Feb. 2026
Babyfxce’s previous album was more like a smorgasbord, doling out dirty talk over thumping twerk-drill and groovy funk beats.
—Matthew Ritchie, Pitchfork, 23 Feb. 2026
Coffee giant Starbucks is celebrating a win after Super Bowl 60, doling out free coffee to its Starbucks Rewards members while also debuting a new coffee blend and a new pastry lineup.
—Susan Selasky, Freep.com, 9 Feb. 2026
Before the BusPatrol camera program was suspended last year for doling out questionable violations, the private company running the operation was also mailing out violations with faulty information.
—Douglas Hanks, Miami Herald, 4 Feb. 2026
The city's three public safety agencies are also developing public dashboards which will track a range of data metrics relevant to each department, including staffing levels, how many 911 calls each agency is responding to and how much overtime pay each department is doling out each month.
—Austin Sanders, Austin American Statesman, 4 Feb. 2026
Both of these make doling out cash riskier.
—Aly J Yale, CBS News, 4 Feb. 2026
Her parents worked in the family’s furniture store, where Weiss’s father, Lou, had a flair for marketing, doling out a line of candies called Weiss Krispie Treats to customers.
—Clare Malone, New Yorker, 19 Jan. 2026
In a Thursday release, the Commission said it’s never shared its methodology used in doling out about $168 million to about 37,000 grant winners across the state to support students from low-income families.
—Carole Carlson, Chicago Tribune, 18 Jan. 2026
Kaitlin Lange, IndyStar, 25 Feb. 2026
Babyfxce’s previous album was more like a smorgasbord, doling out dirty talk over thumping twerk-drill and groovy funk beats.
—Matthew Ritchie, Pitchfork, 23 Feb. 2026
Coffee giant Starbucks is celebrating a win after Super Bowl 60, doling out free coffee to its Starbucks Rewards members while also debuting a new coffee blend and a new pastry lineup.
—Susan Selasky, Freep.com, 9 Feb. 2026
Before the BusPatrol camera program was suspended last year for doling out questionable violations, the private company running the operation was also mailing out violations with faulty information.
—Douglas Hanks, Miami Herald, 4 Feb. 2026
The city's three public safety agencies are also developing public dashboards which will track a range of data metrics relevant to each department, including staffing levels, how many 911 calls each agency is responding to and how much overtime pay each department is doling out each month.
—Austin Sanders, Austin American Statesman, 4 Feb. 2026
Both of these make doling out cash riskier.
—Aly J Yale, CBS News, 4 Feb. 2026
Her parents worked in the family’s furniture store, where Weiss’s father, Lou, had a flair for marketing, doling out a line of candies called Weiss Krispie Treats to customers.
—Clare Malone, New Yorker, 19 Jan. 2026
In a Thursday release, the Commission said it’s never shared its methodology used in doling out about $168 million to about 37,000 grant winners across the state to support students from low-income families.
—Carole Carlson, Chicago Tribune, 18 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for doling out
Verb
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On Wednesday, supporters of the defendants gathered outside the federal courthouse, distributing fliers to passersby.—
Sarah Bahari,
Dallas Morning News,
26 Feb. 2026
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Agents later determined the transactions were between Edwards and a man in the United Kingdom, who was arrested and later convicted for distributing the materials through Telegram and other apps.—
David Matthews,
New York Daily News,
25 Feb. 2026
Verb
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As for the new tunnel, slim it down by dispensing with outmoded technology that the rest of the world has abandoned like bench walls and, most critically, change the alignment of the tunnel.—
New York Daily News Editorial Board,
New York Daily News,
16 Feb. 2026
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Destined for the landfill after a few years of dispensing mediocre coffee.—
Michael J. Coren,
Washington Post,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Since 2011, the Thiel Fellowship has been handing out sizable grants to young people who are willing to drop out of college and launch their businesses.—
Emma Burleigh,
Fortune,
20 Feb. 2026
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The work at a syringe exchange center, like the one housed at the Damien Center on Indianapolis' east side, doesn't begin and end with handing out sterile needles.—
Kayla Dwyer,
IndyStar,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
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For most of Sunday, Bridgeman played golf stuck in neutral, par golf through 15 holes with nobody — not even McIlroy — truly providing pressure.—
Brody Miller,
New York Times,
23 Feb. 2026
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Delegates had the chance to officially endorse a party favorite, providing a major lift in a contest with the distinct lack of any obvious front-runner.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The map keeps Salt Lake County almost entirely within one district, instead of dividing the heavily Democratic population center among all four districts, as was previously the case.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
21 Feb. 2026
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Witnesses said the plane crashed into the fence dividing two homes, prompting a gas leak.—
Jeramie Bizzle,
CBS News,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Other proposals included allocating lottery odds based on two-year records, extending the lottery pool to include play-in teams and flattening odds across the board.—
C.J. Holmes,
New York Daily News,
20 Feb. 2026
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Lawmakers aren’t allocating the pilot program any more money.—
Lawrence Mower,
Miami Herald,
19 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Doling out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/doling%20out. Accessed 28 Feb. 2026.
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