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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
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
Ivisic made his way down the floor, got the ball at the three-point line, took two steps without dribbling and threw down a poster dunk of his own.
—Ryan Brennan
march 25, Kansas City Star, 25 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
Their play is a symphony of cheers and swishes, conversation and laughter, dribbling balls and rattling rims.
—Chris John Amorosino, Hartford Courant, 13 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
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 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
Ivisic made his way down the floor, got the ball at the three-point line, took two steps without dribbling and threw down a poster dunk of his own.
—Ryan Brennan
march 25, Kansas City Star, 25 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
Their play is a symphony of cheers and swishes, conversation and laughter, dribbling balls and rattling rims.
—Chris John Amorosino, Hartford Courant, 13 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
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
-
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 joy is infectious in this image of mission pilot Victor Glover and mission specialist Christina Koch who soak in the moment while sitting together after splashing down on Friday (April 10).—
Chelsea Gohd,
Space.com,
13 Apr. 2026
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After 10 days in space, the Artemis II crew safely returned to Earth on Friday, splashing down in the Pacific Ocean off San Diego.—
Francie Ebert,
NBC news,
13 Apr. 2026
Verb
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These plants contain cardiac glycosides, which can cause unpleasant symptoms for dogs and cats alike, such as drooling, diarrhea, abdominal pain, abnormal heart rhythm, and even some neurologic signs.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
24 Mar. 2026
-
Chewing on the bulbs can cause severe vomiting and diarrhea, profuse drooling and burns to the mouth.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Miami Herald,
24 Mar. 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
-
An employee was washing their hands with gloves on.—
Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado
April 10,
Sacbee.com,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The words feel heavy and unnatural when O'Neal repeats them back to the doctor, like trying to blow a bubble and spitting out rocks instead.—
Courtney Crowder,
USA Today,
10 Apr. 2026
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Anna Frenza wakes up suddenly, suffocating from smoke and spitting ash.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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The key detail here is planting density — sparse marigold plantings may still offer benefits, but thick clusters can backfire.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Kansas City Star,
10 Apr. 2026
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But in the United States, the only reliable access to CAR-T for those patients comes through sparse clinical trials.—
Katherine J. Wu,
The Atlantic,
9 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 18 Apr. 2026.
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