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
-
Queso dripping all over the meat and other toppings is so much more fun.—
Aly Walansky,
Southern Living,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Always place the package on a plate or inside a container—raw meat dripping onto produce or leftovers is one of the most common sources of cross-contamination in the home kitchen.—
Anne Wolf,
Martha Stewart,
19 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Cool, wet weather favors anthracnose development, and spores are spread by splashing rain.—
Rita Perwich,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
2 May 2026
-
Meta Platforms is splashing some serious cash on AI infrastructure, and investors have flinched.—
Amanda Gerut,
Fortune,
29 Apr. 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
-
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
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The other method is by hand-washing the blanket in a bathtub with cool water and a wool detergent.—
Ashley Poskin,
Martha Stewart,
2 May 2026
-
The best way to get rid of the musty storage smell is through washing your clothes, but Ceconi recommends a few extra steps that ensure the odor really goes away.—
Melissa Epifano,
The Spruce,
1 May 2026
Verb
-
The saga of these spitting stars is far from over.—
Paul Sutter,
Space.com,
3 May 2026
-
Religious groups have documented a rise in acts of harassment and violence against Christian pilgrims and clergy as well as Palestinian Christian residents, including assaults and spitting, often by ultra-Orthodox Jewish yeshiva students.—
Sam Metz,
Los Angeles Times,
1 May 2026
Adjective
-
When autonomous vehicle companies like Waymo first deployed their robotaxis on the streets of San Francisco, laws governing the new mode of transportation were sparse, as the city served as a testing ground for these robotaxis.—
Noe Padilla,
USA Today,
4 May 2026
-
And emergency shelter space is sparse in the county due to declining exit rates and a lack of beds.—
Desiree Mathurin,
Charlotte Observer,
4 May 2026
Verb
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Doctors noted a crackling sound, suggesting gases bubbling out of his dying flesh, and some of the outer layers of skin were peeling off.—
Beth Mole,
ArsTechnica,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Recorded on five reel-to-reel decks, the composer’s 1975 piece blends everyday and exotic sounds—human breath, cheeping frogs, bubbling geysers—into a passionate defense of the raptures of listening.—
Joshua Minsoo Kim,
Pitchfork,
28 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dribbling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dribbling. Accessed 6 May. 2026.
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