Synonyms of drill

drill 1 of 3

noun

1

as in routine

an established and often automatic or monotonous series of actions followed when engaging in some activity

shuttling the kids between extracurricular activities is all part of the suburban drill

Synonyms & Similar Words

• routine
• grind
• groove
• rut
• pattern
• rote
• treadmill
• technique
• lockstep
• practice
• habit
• method
• strategy
• program
• plan
• procedure
• regimen
• approach
• tradition
• trick
• tack
• style
• housekeeping
• custom
• scheme
• design
• policy
• manner
• daily dozen
• way
• fashion
• wont
• convention

2

as in exercise

something done over and over in order to develop skill

doing vocabulary drills all afternoon in preparation for the test

Synonyms & Similar Words

• exercise
• practice
• training
• lesson
• workout
• routine
• homework
• assignment
• refresher
• brushup
• review

drill

2 of 3

verb (1)

ˈdril 

1

as in to pierce

to make a hole or series of holes in

the nerve-jangling sound when a dentist drills a tooth

Synonyms & Similar Words

• pierce
• punch
• hole
• poke
• bore
• puncture
• perforate
• tap
• cut
• penetrate
• riddle
• excavate
• break
• broach
• hollow
• split
• prick
• slash
• slit
• gouge
• groove
• burrow (into)
• rupture
• rend
• notch
• prickle
• gash

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• fill
• patch
• seal
• plug

2

as in to shoot

to strike with a missile from a gun

drilled the target from 100 yards away

Synonyms & Similar Words

• shoot
• gun
• pop
• plug
• kill
• drop
• destroy
• slay
• slaughter
• blow away
• fire (at)
• bring down
• shoot down
• pick off
• blast (at)
• pepper
• machine-gun
• butcher
• massacre
• wipe out
• snipe (at)
• shotgun
• dispatch
• blaze
• pistol
• ice
• fell
• potshot
• blot out
• decimate
• annihilate
• tommy-gun
• croak
• do in

drill

3 of 3

verb (2)

as in to plant

to put or set into the ground to grow

he drills soybeans in the same rows with corn

Synonyms & Similar Words

• plant
• put in
• seed
• sow
• bed
• replant
• broadcast
• transplant
• pot
• scatter
• reseed
• overseed

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• gather
• reap
• harvest

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of drill

Noun

Its target is rugged factory work with tools like drills and welders. — New Atlas, 6 Oct. 2026

Russian media also reported that Russian President Vladimir Putin observed the drills at the Chebarkul Training Ground on Friday and met foreign military attaches. — Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 4 Oct. 2026

Verb

Rodriguez was drilling a mounting hole the day after Thanksgiving in 2024. — Joe Rubin, Sacbee.com, 8 Oct. 2026

Red Oak opened district play by squeaking past Mansfield (23-20), but the Hawks got drilled by Duncanville (42-0) to follow. — Darren Lauber, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 Oct. 2026