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 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 Still, Ocasio-Cortez has been far more cautious than Sanders in doling out endorsements this cycle and has gone to greater lengths to avoid friction with her colleagues in the House. — David Sivak, The Washington Examiner, 19 July 2026 Food and drink Days here start at Rice Kitchen, the all-day diner doling out breakfasts of avocado toast with roast tomatoes and white asparagus, and fruit- and flower-topped little bowls of yogurt from Da Lat. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 July 2026 But doling out in the realm of $30 million for three years to change leadership on the bench does not compare to these tax payments. — Fred Katz, New York Times, 26 June 2026 More than 1,000 Amazon shoppers snapped up the pants in the past month alone, doling out hundreds of five-star ratings in the process. — Toni Sutton, PEOPLE, 23 June 2026 Leavenworth With its Bavarian-style architecture, mountain views, and taverns doling out steins of German beer and traditional dishes like käsespätzle, this small town in central Washington evokes an Alpine village. — Zoe Baillargeon, Travel + Leisure, 20 June 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for doling out

Verb

That would guarantee exclusive 45-day theatrical windows and a moratorium on distributing the movies on streaming services for at least 90 days, with potentially financial penalties if Paramount failed to hold up its end of the bargain.

— Todd Spangler, Variety, 9 Aug. 2026
Cardinal is a behind-the-scenes healthcare giant, distributing drugs and medical supplies to hospitals and pharmacies.

— Zev Fima,Kevin Stankiewicz, CNBC, 9 Aug. 2026

Definition of distributing

Verb

Before the cars are back on track, The Athletic’s F1 experts Luke Smith and Madeline Coleman have analyzed each team to date this season, handing out midterm report cards.

— Madeline Coleman, New York Times, 4 Aug. 2026
Illinois is dropping another $17M this year, handing out grants to 39 organizations participating in the Illinois Works Pre-Apprenticeship Program.

— Ryan Craig, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026

Definition of handing out

Verb

Trade data show China has fully transitioned from providing mostly low cost manufacturing to supplying vital machinery and components for advanced manufacturing.

— ABC News, ABC News, 7 Aug. 2026
Knitwear made from thin, airy materials or designed with an oversized fit is ideal for providing the touch of warmth needed on cool summer nights, while also working well with extra layers when fall weather arrives.

— Natalie LaBarbera, PEOPLE, 7 Aug. 2026

Definition of providing

Verb

Chin-Hong thinks about risk as a continuum, rather than dividing the world into safe and dangerous.

— Angela Haupt, Time, 10 Aug. 2026
Drew Fisher of Eden Prairie, Minnesota, hit the attenuator dividing Interstate 94 from the Lyndale Avenue exit near Olson Memorial Highway, the Minnesota State Patrol said.

— WCCO Staff, CBS News, 10 Aug. 2026

Definition of dividing

Verb

In its 2025 report, the state auditor recommended that the Legislature consider allocating NAGPRA-specific funding to the university system which would come with conditions of compliance.

— Tarini Mehta, Sacbee.com, 6 Aug. 2026
For example, shifting the Fed’s portfolio toward short-term Treasury bills and away from long-term bonds or mortgage-back securities could reduce market price distortion and limit the government’s role in allocating capital across sectors.

— David Zhang, Forbes.com, 3 Aug. 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 13 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of doling out

verb

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