as in trickling
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1
as in dripping
to fall or let fall in or as if in drops
water dribbling over the lip of the fountain
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in splashing
to flow in a broken irregular stream
rainwater dribbling along the partially clogged gutter
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3
as in drooling
to let saliva or some other substance flow from the mouth
picnickers dribbling in eager anticipation of the hamburgers on the grill
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Recent Examples of dribbling
Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 25 Nov. 2025
Joe Kinsey Outkick, FOXNews.com, 1 May 2026
The other theme of this match was the number of players comfortable dribbling with the ball.
—Michael Cox, New York Times, 29 Apr. 2026
The walkaround tasting will feature unlimited eats, from smash burgers — the trendy pancake-flat kind with cheese dribbling down a latticework of crispy edges — to classically juicy, skyscraper-thick patties, paired with snacks, liquor and desserts, Gonzalez says.
—Phillip Valys, Sun Sentinel, 28 Apr. 2026
Wembanyama’s highlights included dribbling behind his back to avoid Avdija at halfcourt, backing him down to the top of the key, spinning around him and running free to the rim for a two-handed dunk midway through the first quarter.
—ABC News, 19 Apr. 2026
Nothing, though, like the sound of basketballs dribbling in the middle of the night.
—Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 17 Apr. 2026
After the foul was given, Camavinga decided to temporarily stop Bayern’s players from taking the ball, briefly dribbling it away from the opposition before picking it up with his hands.
—Ben Church, CNN Money, 16 Apr. 2026
After Blakes lost the ball dribbling toward the basket for what would have been a tying shot, the Commodores had to foul three times just to get Notre Dame to the free-throw line.
—Schuyler Dixon, Chicago Tribune, 27 Mar. 2026
Taylor Huff got one back in the 56th minute, dribbling into the box and finishing off the left post.
—Harold Gutmann, Mercury News, 22 Mar. 2026
Adjective
In a recent lab demonstration done by the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), the compact humanoid moved with surprising fluidity—dribbling, passing, and sinking shots after practising thousands of simulated drills.
—Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 25 Nov. 2025
Verb
During a game, one of the boys was just standing there watching a boy from the other team dribbling.
—Joe Kinsey Outkick, FOXNews.com, 1 May 2026
The other theme of this match was the number of players comfortable dribbling with the ball.
—Michael Cox, New York Times, 29 Apr. 2026
The walkaround tasting will feature unlimited eats, from smash burgers — the trendy pancake-flat kind with cheese dribbling down a latticework of crispy edges — to classically juicy, skyscraper-thick patties, paired with snacks, liquor and desserts, Gonzalez says.
—Phillip Valys, Sun Sentinel, 28 Apr. 2026
Wembanyama’s highlights included dribbling behind his back to avoid Avdija at halfcourt, backing him down to the top of the key, spinning around him and running free to the rim for a two-handed dunk midway through the first quarter.
—ABC News, 19 Apr. 2026
Nothing, though, like the sound of basketballs dribbling in the middle of the night.
—Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 17 Apr. 2026
After the foul was given, Camavinga decided to temporarily stop Bayern’s players from taking the ball, briefly dribbling it away from the opposition before picking it up with his hands.
—Ben Church, CNN Money, 16 Apr. 2026
After Blakes lost the ball dribbling toward the basket for what would have been a tying shot, the Commodores had to foul three times just to get Notre Dame to the free-throw line.
—Schuyler Dixon, Chicago Tribune, 27 Mar. 2026
Taylor Huff got one back in the 56th minute, dribbling into the box and finishing off the left post.
—Harold Gutmann, Mercury News, 22 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dribbling
Verb
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Check often to ensure melting snow isn't dripping on the meter from the roof or nearby trees.—
Jennifer McRae,
CBS News,
6 May 2026
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Fellow livestream host La La Anthony, a bronze goddess in a Wiederhoeft gown dripping with jewels, channeled her inner Jessica Rabbit with red hair.—
Anika Reed,
USA Today,
5 May 2026
Verb
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Dining venues center around the village square’s plaza and splashing fountain.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
11 May 2026
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Heading into this week, the Green Mile was the toughest-three hole stretch on the PGA Tour, with golfers averaging nearly a shot over par while splashing almost 2,000 balls into the water since 2003.—
Jordan Kaye,
Charlotte Observer,
11 May 2026
Verb
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Chase Reid, meanwhile, just put together a better-than-point-per-game season in the OHL and has the loud tools — the escapability and skating speed in particular — that have NHL scouts positively drooling.—
Thomas Drance,
New York Times,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Predators respond with head shaking, gaping, drooling, and frantic licking.—
Ryan Brennan,
Kansas City Star,
13 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Marist, which has scant returning experience from last year’s national powerhouse, jumped out to leads of 5-0 and 16-5 in the ninth game of the day against Glenbard West.—
Jeff Vorva,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Apr. 2026
-
By Sunday afternoon, only a scant few remained in the stadium’s team shop.—
Ryan Finley,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
26 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
An employee touched raw shrimp, then touched an apron cloth before washing their hands in the handwashing sink.—
Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado
May 8,
Sacbee.com,
8 May 2026
-
Balogun had found a lump on the underside of her jaw while washing her face four months previously, and now her career and identity were about to be upended.—
George Ramsay,
New York Times,
7 May 2026
Verb
-
Windows Vista and its early WDDM woes had reduced my previously badass main PC with two Nvidia 7900GT cards in SLI to a stuttering BSOD-spitting mess, and the future of Microsoft OSes looked bleak—Windows 7 wouldn’t be along to change the situation for years.—
Lee Hutchinson,
ArsTechnica,
6 May 2026
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This means that early galaxies were true star-forming machines, gobbling up gas and spitting out stars with a furious intensity.—
Paul Sutter,
Space.com,
4 May 2026
Adjective
-
The federal government keeps details sparse about what happens in its detention centers.—
Caitlin McGlade,
Charlotte Observer,
11 May 2026
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When the center-field video board showed the announcement, loud boos rang out from the sparse crowd braving elements.—
Gabrielle Starr,
Boston Herald,
9 May 2026
Verb
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The decision to withhold Golden Tempo comes amid bubbling conversations to tweak the Triple Crown race calendar.—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
6 May 2026
-
Whatever emerges from the bubbling oil of the fryer — fish and chips; thick, thin and curly fries; Scotch eggs and bangers — is immaculately fried.—
Jenn Harris,
Los Angeles Times,
4 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dribbling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dribbling. Accessed 12 May. 2026.
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