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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 doling out
Trump is just straight-up doling out untruths – and blaming Biden.
—
David Goldman, CNN Money, 4 Nov. 2025
Conte remained defiant about his central role in doling out designer steroids to elite athletes.
—Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 4 Nov. 2025
Every Sunday, Avenida Paulista closes to cars and becomes a pedestrian boulevard with musicians performing on street corners and food vendors doling out fresh sugarcane juice.
—AFAR Media, 17 Oct. 2025
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
David Goldman, CNN Money, 4 Nov. 2025
Conte remained defiant about his central role in doling out designer steroids to elite athletes.
—Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 4 Nov. 2025
Every Sunday, Avenida Paulista closes to cars and becomes a pedestrian boulevard with musicians performing on street corners and food vendors doling out fresh sugarcane juice.
—AFAR Media, 17 Oct. 2025
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for doling out
Verb
-
The Capital Area Food Bank has been distributing food to federal workers affected by the shutdown.—
The NPR Network,
NPR,
30 Oct. 2025
-
Franklin nonprofit OneGenAway will be hosting drive-thru food pickups throughout November, distributing both shelf-stable foods and fresh produce.—
Vivian Jones,
Nashville Tennessean,
30 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The restaurant’s health permit wasn’t posted, many food items were without labels and dates and the dishwasher wasn’t dispensing sanitizer.—
Harriet Ramos,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
1 Nov. 2025
-
The dishwasher was not dispensing sanitizer.—
Sacbee.com,
Sacbee.com,
31 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Zion Norwood and Wilmer Almendarez, both 16 and students at Western International High School, sat in camp chairs, handing out leaflets supporting Sheffield’s rival, Solomon Kinloch Jr.—
Tanya Wildt,
Freep.com,
4 Nov. 2025
-
There are original 20th-century mosaics underfoot, live jazz in the air, and servers handing out refreshments before anyone even boards.—
Antonia Mortensen,
CNN Money,
28 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The Grossmont board declined to renew the contract of Christian Wallis, its previous chief executive, in March without providing a public reason for the dismissal.—
Paul Sisson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
5 Nov. 2025
-
The developer at the 145th Street project was providing real and meaningful housing and the deal just did not go through.—
Kim Velsey,
Curbed,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Where to Stay While Umbria isn’t massive, dividing your trip into at least two home bases is highly recommended to appreciate the region’s slower tempo.—
John Skelton,
Travel + Leisure,
24 Oct. 2025
-
Sympodial orchids must be propagated by dividing them, not pruning or trimming them.—
Leanne Potts,
Better Homes & Gardens,
23 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
That is still conservative compared to Bridgewater Associates' founder and billionaire Ray Dalio's advise earlier this month of allocating as much as 15% of one's portfolio to gold.—
Priyanka Salve,
CNBC,
27 Oct. 2025
-
California law allows health care districts to transfer their assets to management corporations, but allocating 50% or more, as determined by a fair market value analysis, requires a public vote.—
Paul Sisson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
23 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Doling out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/doling%20out. Accessed 6 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share