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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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
The Ibrox faithful are hoping that Moore’s similar stocky build and dribbling style can inspire a late run to another title this May.
—Jordan Campbell, New York Times, 3 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
After dribbling between his legs, Mark switched up and leaned to his right and let loose with a dagger jumper from 20 feet out.
—Cedric Golden, Austin American Statesman, 18 Mar. 2026
Raúl had taught us dribbling tricks and how to hit a header from a corner shot.
—Literary Hub, 16 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
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
The Ibrox faithful are hoping that Moore’s similar stocky build and dribbling style can inspire a late run to another title this May.
—Jordan Campbell, New York Times, 3 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
After dribbling between his legs, Mark switched up and leaned to his right and let loose with a dagger jumper from 20 feet out.
—Cedric Golden, Austin American Statesman, 18 Mar. 2026
Raúl had taught us dribbling tricks and how to hit a header from a corner shot.
—Literary Hub, 16 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dribbling
Verb
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That, of course, and the occasional ghostly presences, unsettling cries, and blood dripping from the ceiling.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
10 Apr. 2026
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Blown out, extravagant, dripping with ferocious malaise and desperation, but precisely arranged for the maximum possible emotional effect.—
Mikael Wood,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The sink is prone to splashing and will wash any oil and vinegar residue away in no time.—
Hallie Milstein,
Southern Living,
19 Apr. 2026
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Don’t sleep on this two-pack of hummingbird feeders, which can hold up to 16 ounces of hummingbird feed each, or this popular bird bath that birds love splashing around in.—
Stephanie Osmanski,
Better Homes & Gardens,
17 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Predators respond with head shaking, gaping, drooling, and frantic licking.—
Ryan Brennan,
Kansas City Star,
13 Apr. 2026
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But Cremily won over teams and venues with a story worth drooling over.—
Sam Blum,
New York Times,
13 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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The first thing that stands out about the film’s quaint locale is that its scant dwellings are made up only of exterior flats.—
Siddhant Adlakha,
Variety,
12 Apr. 2026
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But the first season savors slamming the door on those scant light sources, rather than let their warmth sink in.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Still washing dishes in the bathtub.—
Théoden Janes,
Charlotte Observer,
10 Apr. 2026
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An employee was washing their hands with gloves on.—
Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado
April 10,
Sacbee.com,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
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When John begins spitting out his food, his mother, Heather (Shirley Henderson), worn down by exhaustion and anger, banishes him from the dinner table—the first in an unceasing series of maternal rejections.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
17 Apr. 2026
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There’s one climactic moment involving spitting when the staging undermines the action.—
Theater Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
17 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Mexican authorities published pictures in which Balla -- wearing a shirt with a palm tree pattern and sporting a sparse beard -- appears to be escorted by police and security forces.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
20 Apr. 2026
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Lindsay Olson, the founder of Lulu Designs, explains how treating the outdoors as a room prevents a space from looking sparse.—
Sarah Lyon,
The Spruce,
19 Apr. 2026
Verb
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An outsider romance peppered with gallows humor and bubbling over with giddy optimism, Harold and Maude is a life-affirming, weirdly wonderful film about a rich kid with a death wish and his love affair with an exuberant 79-year-old woman.—
Debby Wolfinsohn,
Entertainment Weekly,
13 Apr. 2026
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The road was reportedly bubbling just before the sinkhole opened up, neighbors say.—
Cecilio Padilla,
CBS News,
13 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dribbling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dribbling. Accessed 21 Apr. 2026.
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