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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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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of dribbling
Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 25 Nov. 2025
Chris McKenna, New York Times, 8 Mar. 2026
He had been cleared for individual work late last week, and had shed his cast and was focusing on non-contact work like dribbling and shooting.
—ABC News, 6 Mar. 2026
As LeBron James conducted his pregame dribbling routine at the Chase Center, the sparse but rapidly-filling crowd ooh’d and aah’d over the scene on display.
—Benjamin Royer, Oc Register, 1 Mar. 2026
Westbrook’s reaction came after Boucher took a final heave rather than dribbling out the clock, a move widely frowned upon around the league.
—Chris Biderman, Sacbee.com, 31 Jan. 2026
Thunder players outside of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had trouble merely dribbling the ball, let alone serving as any type of legitimate scoring threat.
—Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 30 Jan. 2026
Other key trends in beauty are dribbling into the allergy space, such as the microbiome buzz.
—James Manso, Footwear News, 29 Jan. 2026
Technical on the ball with a penchant for dribbling through pressure in tight areas, Boudri has shown a consistent ability to separate from defenders and be a threat in the final third.
—Josh Gross, Daily News, 24 Jan. 2026
But instead of prioritizing touching the paint then spraying the ball out to an open shooter, the Knicks have spiraled into iso-ball, over-dribbling and tough shots.
—Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 21 Jan. 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
The young players were set three ‘skills’ tasks; the first was a dribbling one, between mannequins, the second a short passing drill involving small goals and the third was ball juggling, or ‘keepy-uppies’ — as they’re colloquially referred to.
—Chris McKenna, New York Times, 8 Mar. 2026
He had been cleared for individual work late last week, and had shed his cast and was focusing on non-contact work like dribbling and shooting.
—ABC News, 6 Mar. 2026
As LeBron James conducted his pregame dribbling routine at the Chase Center, the sparse but rapidly-filling crowd ooh’d and aah’d over the scene on display.
—Benjamin Royer, Oc Register, 1 Mar. 2026
Westbrook’s reaction came after Boucher took a final heave rather than dribbling out the clock, a move widely frowned upon around the league.
—Chris Biderman, Sacbee.com, 31 Jan. 2026
Thunder players outside of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had trouble merely dribbling the ball, let alone serving as any type of legitimate scoring threat.
—Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 30 Jan. 2026
Other key trends in beauty are dribbling into the allergy space, such as the microbiome buzz.
—James Manso, Footwear News, 29 Jan. 2026
Technical on the ball with a penchant for dribbling through pressure in tight areas, Boudri has shown a consistent ability to separate from defenders and be a threat in the final third.
—Josh Gross, Daily News, 24 Jan. 2026
But instead of prioritizing touching the paint then spraying the ball out to an open shooter, the Knicks have spiraled into iso-ball, over-dribbling and tough shots.
—Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 21 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dribbling
Verb
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In November, Aguilera modeled a plunging satin corset dripping with pearls in a behind-the-scenes clip uploaded on Instagram.—
Hannah Malach,
InStyle,
4 Mar. 2026
-
Animal Control was also called to the home in concern for the dog's safety due to blood still dripping from her privates four weeks into her heat cycle.—
Scott Butler,
Florida Times-Union,
2 Mar. 2026
Verb
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So instead of splashing around in new pools on Day 1, the Broncos ran it back.—
Parker Gabriel,
Denver Post,
10 Mar. 2026
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At best, there was room for three ounces of liquid splashing around.—
Kat Odell,
Bloomberg,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Even a small amount, whether inhaled or absorbed through the skin, can lead to drooling, vomiting, tremors, or difficulty breathing.—
Mary Cornetta,
Better Homes & Gardens,
3 Mar. 2026
-
His first swing of spring training showcased the kind of pop that has kept the Yankees drooling.—
Brendan Kuty,
New York Times,
3 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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The fraying ties prompted Islamabad to return almost three million Afghan nationals in recent months, straining Kabul’s scant resources.—
semafor.com,
semafor.com,
3 Mar. 2026
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While law enforcement authorities have offered scant details about the shooter suspected of killing two college students and injuring 14 others, public records and interviews paint a picture of an elusive man who investigators say may have operated as a lone terrorist.—
Ana Gutierrez,
Austin American Statesman,
2 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Is there anything more comfortable than slipping into bed after washing and drying your sheets?—
Ashlyn Needham,
Southern Living,
7 Mar. 2026
-
The same rule applies to washing dishes in a dirty dishwasher.—
Madeline Buiano,
Martha Stewart,
7 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Scroll on for spitting-image rollneck sweaters up to $78 less than the original, as well as other styles inspired by the look.—
Annie Blackman,
InStyle,
5 Mar. 2026
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Some of the pending charges involve low-level felonies and include allegations of battery against police officers, including a University of Chicago professor who is accused of spitting at a trooper.—
Madeline Buckley,
Chicago Tribune,
4 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Peaking at number two on the r&b singles chart that year, the song’s lyrics hew closely to familiar genre narratives but are transformed by the sparse yet eclectic instrumental sound being refined by Timbaland and Missy.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
9 Mar. 2026
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About 85 percent of the original road is still drivable, although signage is sparse and Google Maps doesn’t recognize Route 66 as a single continuous path.—
Zoey Goto,
Travel + Leisure,
8 Mar. 2026
Verb
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With price pressures still bubbling in ways that have made consumers unhappy about affordability, economists are closely monitoring the impact of higher energy prices.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
2 Mar. 2026
-
Something is bubbling up from your core.—
USA TODAY,
USA Today,
25 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dribbling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dribbling. Accessed 10 Mar. 2026.
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