doodle 1 of 2

verb

ˈdü-dᵊl How to pronounce doodle (audio)
Definition of doodlenext
as in to play
to spend time in aimless activity I plan to spend the entire vacation just doodling

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

doodle

2 of 2

noun

as in illustration

Related Words

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 doodle
Verb
They were inspired both by the 2023 California Superbloom and memories of doodling flowers while growing up in India. — Anthony Paletta, Curbed, 17 May 2026 Koch bobbed by again, this time with glasses and a Harry Potter lightning bolt doodled on her face. — Michael Tedder, The Atlantic, 12 Apr. 2026
Noun
Hot pink butterfly nail art, combined with tie-dye marbling, zebra stripes, and itty-bitty heart doodles. — Ariel Wodarcyk, InStyle, 18 June 2026 Soon my entire feed was pugs and poodles and beagles and portmanteau blends with absurd names like golden doodle and cavapoo. — Literary Hub, 11 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for doodle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for doodle
  1. play
  2. illustration
  3. drawing
  4. caricature
  5. outline
  6. sketch
  7. portrait
  8. silhouette
Verb
  • Phoenix guard Kelsey Plum did not play against the team that traded her a little over a week ago.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Knizner had been playing for Boston’s Triple-A affiliate but exercised his opt-out last week (before Susac’s injury), becoming a free agent.
    — Justice delos Santos, Mercury News, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of play
Noun
  • These covers were respectively created by graphic designer Ben Denzer, freelance artist Patrice Sheridan (after an illustration by Thomas Colligan), and Penguin Associate Art Director Amanda Dewey.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 7 Aug. 2026
  • The mods think Reddit might have designated the website—and thus any post using its content for explanatory illustrations—as spam.
    — Scharon Harding, ArsTechnica, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of illustration
Noun
  • Their stories were told through drawings, comic books, artwork, photographs, letters, even puppets.
    — Tess Kenny, Chicago Tribune, 15 Aug. 2026
  • Sure, there are way too many people asking for drawings of obscure anime characters that are nearly impossible to pull off with the bare-bones MS-Paint-like tool in two-and-a-half minutes.
    — Terrence O'Brien, The Verge, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of drawing
Noun
  • Blessed with generational talent, mainstream appeal and a good basketball product, the league is instead in danger of becoming a caricature.
    — Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 12 Aug. 2026
  • In the national consciousness, Blackpool has become a morbid caricature of working-class Britain—a place where binge drinking, violence, and vomit are in view of teacup rides, kids on the beach, and plastic pirates.
    — George Francis Lee, New Yorker, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of caricature
Noun
  • Remember, the goal is to create a gentle shadow—not a visible outline—so that the lips appear naturally fuller.
    — Beatrice Zocchi, Vogue, 11 Aug. 2026
  • The outline of her wet triangle bikini bled through the bust of her dress.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of outline
Noun
  • The postmodern lingua franca of today’s internet meme culture owes much to Wareheim and Heidecker, particularly their Adult Swim sketch series Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!
    — Gary Baum, HollywoodReporter, 13 Aug. 2026
  • The piece of art, gifted by a fan to Grisham and then claimed by McMahon as his own, is in the style of a police sketch.
    — Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of sketch
Noun
  • The result is a scary portrait of a culture going crazy and a city ready to burn.
    — The Week US, TheWeek, 13 Aug. 2026
  • The director was determined, however, that Adela would firmly be fictional rather than becoming a portrait of the performer.
    — Callum McLennan, Variety, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of portrait
Noun
  • Featuring a slimming silhouette, this mock-neck sweater is polished enough for the office but can pull double duty as casual wear on the weekends.
    — Emily Weaver, PEOPLE, 16 Aug. 2026
  • Taylor Swift, Juno Temple and Gillian Anderson have all worn platform silhouettes as of late in varying colors and textures from brands like Gucci, Miu Miu and Paris Texas, among others.
    — Amina Ayoud, Footwear News, 16 Aug. 2026
Definition of silhouette

Browse Nearby Words

doodads
doodle
doodled
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Doodle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/doodle. Accessed 18 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on doodle

Nglish: Translation of doodle for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about doodle

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