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

Experts say North Korea has often used its rivals' drills as a pretext to ramp up its testing activities to expand its weapons arsenals and promote public support for leader Kim Jong Un. — ABC News, 13 Aug. 2026

That extended to Geno Smith, who threw two interceptions during 11-on-11 drills Tuesday against the Bucs. — Antwan Staley, New York Daily News, 13 Aug. 2026

Verb

With Bosa yet to practice in team drills all camp and sidelined the past week with knee tendinitis amid his ACL comeback, the 49ers need to accelerate Height’s participation. — Cam Inman, Mercury News, 13 Aug. 2026

After the Notre Dame Cathedral fire in Paris in 2019, researchers drilled cores through the limestone vaults and mapped exactly where the heat stopped. — Giorgia Giardina, The Conversation, 13 Aug. 2026