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
This one does things a bit differently, though, being of the non-aerosol variety and instead doling out its magic in powder form.
—
Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 15 Oct. 2025
The series peeks behind the plastic countertops at the people doling out driver's licenses and car registrations, finding humor in driving tests, angry patrons and office politics.
—Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 11 Oct. 2025
This isn’t just a quirky uncle at Thanksgiving doling out wacky advice.
—Flavia Mangan Colgan, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Oct. 2025
Even before she was nominated for an Oscar for her performance in Alexander Payne’s Nebraska (2002), the 95-year-old actor had been a go-to Everygrandma, doling out enough geriatric sass to make the Golden Girls bow down yet doing so in the most polite, Midwestern way imaginable.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 24 Sep. 2025
Consider the absurdity of carving a single oozing arancini into three or four pieces, doling out two measly salad leaves each to a foursome, or hacking a pristine fish fillet into chum for five.
—Maggie Hennessy, Bon Appetit Magazine, 18 Sep. 2025
Mariah Carey, will be honored with the ceremonies' Video Vanguard Award, while the presenter list is equally glamorous, with Ciara, Drew Barrymore, Ashlee Simpson and Jessica Simpson, and many more doling out awards throughout the night.
—Jackie Fields, PEOPLE, 8 Sep. 2025
The Sanseito party tapped into these frustrations on the campaign trail – doling out rhetoric that some critics called inflammatory and xenophobic.
—Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 27 Aug. 2025
Sure, Outlander or Blood of My Blood could pull some twisty time-travel shenanigans and make this happen, but this universe isn’t exactly known for doling out neat and tidy happily ever afters.
—Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 22 Aug. 2025
Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 15 Oct. 2025
The series peeks behind the plastic countertops at the people doling out driver's licenses and car registrations, finding humor in driving tests, angry patrons and office politics.
—Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 11 Oct. 2025
This isn’t just a quirky uncle at Thanksgiving doling out wacky advice.
—Flavia Mangan Colgan, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Oct. 2025
Even before she was nominated for an Oscar for her performance in Alexander Payne’s Nebraska (2002), the 95-year-old actor had been a go-to Everygrandma, doling out enough geriatric sass to make the Golden Girls bow down yet doing so in the most polite, Midwestern way imaginable.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 24 Sep. 2025
Consider the absurdity of carving a single oozing arancini into three or four pieces, doling out two measly salad leaves each to a foursome, or hacking a pristine fish fillet into chum for five.
—Maggie Hennessy, Bon Appetit Magazine, 18 Sep. 2025
Mariah Carey, will be honored with the ceremonies' Video Vanguard Award, while the presenter list is equally glamorous, with Ciara, Drew Barrymore, Ashlee Simpson and Jessica Simpson, and many more doling out awards throughout the night.
—Jackie Fields, PEOPLE, 8 Sep. 2025
The Sanseito party tapped into these frustrations on the campaign trail – doling out rhetoric that some critics called inflammatory and xenophobic.
—Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 27 Aug. 2025
Sure, Outlander or Blood of My Blood could pull some twisty time-travel shenanigans and make this happen, but this universe isn’t exactly known for doling out neat and tidy happily ever afters.
—Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 22 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for doling out
Verb
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But the key question for jurors will ultimately be whether the Angels knew that their employee was distributing drugs to players and therefore have some responsibility for Skaggs’ death.—
Sean Emery,
Oc Register,
16 Oct. 2025
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Cartuna, founded by James and Adam Belfer, champions unconventional voices in animation, producing and distributing projects that push the boundaries of form, tone and technology.—
Carole Horst,
Variety,
14 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The Arf Pets Memory Training Puzzle Toy is a treat-dispensing activity trainer for pets.—
Christine Persaud,
USA Today,
6 Oct. 2025
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By settling, the companies can pivot toward dispensing with the work of moderation altogether.—
Charlie Warzel,
The Atlantic,
1 Oct. 2025
Verb
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In earnest style, Safdie has been literally handing out flyers to his movie for a while in Manhattan.—
Anthony D'Alessandro,
Deadline,
4 Oct. 2025
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But that’s harder to say out loud when the industry keeps handing out gold stars for burnout.—
Rochelle Ratkaj,
Rolling Stone,
3 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Thank you to the Browns-the Haslams, Andrew Berry, Chris Cooper, my coaches and the team docs/medical staff for providing me with great care.—
Noah Camras,
MSNBC Newsweek,
15 Oct. 2025
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For the developers at Game Freak, their greatest achievement would be not providing fans with a comically large stick to beat the latest entry with.—
Ryan Gaur,
Rolling Stone,
14 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Discussions have been held about dividing Madrid’s football operations from their business operations and letting speculators invest in the latter — although how (or if) that would work in practice is a moot point.—
Phil Hay,
New York Times,
16 Oct. 2025
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Needless to say, its overload of ideas — all rooted in reality, and true to the moment — did not land to universal praise, dividing audiences in the way that big, experimental films often tend to on the Riviera.—
Damon Wise,
Deadline,
16 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Big brands also are allocating more money to influencers.—
Taylor Lorenz,
HollywoodReporter,
16 Oct. 2025
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Lawmakers proposed allocating additional disaster relief funds in the 2025 national budget, and international bodies, including the United Nations, have pledged support to the Philippine government.—
Hollie Silverman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
14 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Doling out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/doling%20out. Accessed 20 Oct. 2025.
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