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
Relevance
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to shoot
to strike with a missile from a gun
drilled the target from 100 yards away
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of drill
Bestreviews, Mercury News, 28 May 2026
Slater was injured during an innocent-looking drill during training camp and sat out all season.
—Elliott Teaford, Oc Register, 28 May 2026
David Frum, The Atlantic, 27 May 2026
Minnesota has a desire to get Edwards off the ball more next season to create more of the easy catch-and-shoot looks the superstar routinely drills.
—Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 26 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for drill
Noun
Over time, Bosch pivoted to vehicular systems, such as ignition coils, drills and other tools.
—Bestreviews, Mercury News, 28 May 2026
Slater was injured during an innocent-looking drill during training camp and sat out all season.
—Elliott Teaford, Oc Register, 28 May 2026
Verb
You get drilled in that in boot camp.
—David Frum, The Atlantic, 27 May 2026
Minnesota has a desire to get Edwards off the ball more next season to create more of the easy catch-and-shoot looks the superstar routinely drills.
—Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 26 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for drill
Recent Examples of Synonyms for drill
Noun
-
Plus, check out the rest of her hair primping routine and some more on-sale options to shop during the retailer's Big Spring Sale below.—
Tamim Alnuweiri,
InStyle,
29 May 2026
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In this case, the leaves will usually return to normal and the plant will recover once a good watering routine is established.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
29 May 2026
Noun
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Also on the wellness menu are group exercise classes, a squeaky clean modern fitness room, and an outdoor Thalasso therapy pool, heated slightly during the day, that uses the natural healing elements of saltwater to alleviate ailments.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
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Undoubtedly, these reconsiderations have been a largely positive exercise, foregrounding not only more equitable but more accurate and more engaging histories, and opening gallery and museum doors to previously excluded artists (even if many have suffered with the ups and downs of speculation).—
Katy Siegel,
Artforum,
2 June 2026
Verb
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Tillis punctuated every strikeout with an ear-piercing scream and fist pump.—
Don Norcross,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
28 May 2026
-
According to the notice, if the toy has been ruptured or pierced, or if sand has escaped the toy, Orb Factory has directed consumers to put on a mask and gloves and use damp cloths to pick up any sand that has leaked out.—
Amaris Encinas,
USA Today,
28 May 2026
Verb
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Wherever possible, Arnold shot outside the studio, capturing her subjects going about their everyday lives — a radical approach for celebrity photography at the time.—
Sheena McKenzie,
CNN Money,
3 June 2026
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According to Marcia, George was convinced he’d be laughed out of Hollywood because in the original script characters were running around and shooting at one another and nobody was getting hurt.—
Emily St. Martin,
Los Angeles Times,
2 June 2026
Verb
-
The city should not give away its most valuable land opportunity to the first institution willing to plant a flag.—
Christos Korgan,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
29 May 2026
-
After the Soviet flag is planted on the lunar surface for a second time, there's talk of Soviet missions to Venus and building bases on the Moon.—
Richard Edwards,
Space.com,
29 May 2026
Noun
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There’s a certain predictability to the plots in a Taylor Sheridan production — a kind of slow, relentless grind from crisis to crisis, punctuated by occasional eruptions of violence.—
Noel Murray,
Vulture,
29 May 2026
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But that doesn’t change the fact that both players were essential in their own ways to Denver’s survival of the 82-game grind.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
29 May 2026
Noun
-
The lens widened further to embrace categories of practice not conventionally regarded as art, most prominently, craft; here, too, the art establishment focused on textiles and ceramics engaged with an existing modernism, as opposed to the 1970s focus on regional and communal networks.—
Katy Siegel,
Artforum,
2 June 2026
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Thursday’s practice at Halas Hall was open to reporters, offering an opportunity to put the magnifying glass over a handful of key topics.—
Dan Wiederer,
New York Times,
1 June 2026
Verb
-
Food and drink Cosmo still punches above its weight on dining.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
-
Doorbell video captured Friday appeared to show Hyder punching the woman, 34-year-old Cherrie Moore, in the face several times while also wrestling her to the ground.—
Jericka Duncan,
CBS News,
2 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Drill.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/drill. Accessed 4 Jun. 2026.
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