drill 1 of 3

noun

Definition of drillnext
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

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2
as in exercise
something done over and over in order to develop skill doing vocabulary drills all afternoon in preparation for the test

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drill

2 of 3

verb (1)

ˈdril How to pronounce drill (audio)
1
as in to pierce
to make a hole or series of holes in the nerve-jangling sound when a dentist drills a tooth

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to shoot
to strike with a missile from a gun drilled the target from 100 yards away

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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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of drill
Noun
The exercises grew increasingly complex, with teams conducting drills inside buildings and responding to continuous emergency alerts. — Amelie Botbol, FOXNews.com, 14 July 2026 Before every game, Arraez runs through Washington’s famous infield drills, which require a defender to field 96 grounders from an assortment of angles and positions in about four minutes. — Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 13 July 2026
Verb
Instead, Cole Carigg drilled a Scott slider for two-run double into the right-center gap to bring Castro and Karros home and tie the score. — Kyle Glaser, Oc Register, 7 July 2026 The process converts solid rock directly into vapor, allowing drilling to continue into geological formations that are too hot and abrasive for traditional equipment. — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 7 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for drill
Recent Examples of Synonyms for drill
  1. routine
  2. exercise
  3. pierce
  4. shoot
  5. plant
  6. grind
  7. practice
  8. punch
Noun
  • The worsening air quality means significant changes to his daily routine.
    — Alessandra Freitas, CNN Money, 18 July 2026
  • This Hourglass set upgrades your entire routine with three of the brand's best-selling brushes.
    — Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 18 July 2026
Definition of routine
Noun
  • In 2021, Brouillette pursued a certification to become a professional firefighter through a program at Southern Maine Community College, which required both academic classes and field exercises, according to court documents.
    — Curt Devine, CNN Money, 18 July 2026
  • During the exercise, crews loaded 500-pound BDU-50 and 2,000-pound BDU-56 practice bombs onto the aircraft before releasing them over the Mountain Home bombing range.
    — Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 18 July 2026
Definition of exercise
Verb
  • In his first international meeting with England, Messi had a pair of assists on two late-match daggers that pierced through the hearts of Three Lions’ players and supporters.
    — Gavin Godfrey, AJC.com, 16 July 2026
  • Finally, in 2024 in Chicago, in an accidental shooting, the same bullet pierced a 16-year-old boy and a policeman.
    — Cal Chengqi Fang, The Conversation, 14 July 2026
Definition of pierce
Verb
  • Gilmore, who was near the stage, was shot in the head and died at the scene.
    — Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 July 2026
  • The Kings shot 47% from the free-throw line and committed 28 turnovers in a 115-83 loss to the Brooklyn Nets at Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, but there was one big bright spot.
    — Jason Anderson, Sacbee.com, 15 July 2026
Definition of shoot
Verb
  • The only free Bowden is Anna, who could easily be charged for directing her sleazy father to plant drugs at Cady’s place.
    — Scott Tobias, Vulture, 17 July 2026
  • Yet somehow, two decades later, the viciously antisemitic Vichy regime planted itself in power; a shocking betrayal by France of some of its most loyal and generous supporters, in a dehumanizing toxic swamp of suspicion, judgment, envy.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 17 July 2026
Definition of plant
Noun
  • Amid a wave of nostalgia for the Chicago Cubs team that ended a 108-year championship drought, former club president Theo Epstein reaffirmed his desire to avoid the day-to-day grind of running another major-league franchise.
    — Patrick Mooney, New York Times, 19 July 2026
  • That grind, week after week, month after month, is affecting the workforce.
    — Anna Giaritelli, The Washington Examiner, 19 July 2026
Definition of grind
Noun
  • The investigation is part of a broader crackdown on what’s known as birth tourism, the practice of traveling to another country, so a child is born there.
    — Tiffani Jackson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 19 July 2026
  • He was paired with a more experienced colleague and learned through instruction and hands-on practice how to care for pines and azaleas, mainly using a hand-pruning technique essential for the Imperial Palace and villas.
    — Hiroshige Yazawa Japan News, Arkansas Online, 19 July 2026
Definition of practice
Verb
  • The Hawks had the chance to punch their way to a spot in the Summer League playoffs with a win.
    — Lauren Williams, AJC.com, 17 July 2026
  • Video shows part of arrest in Meridian Ten seconds into the initial video, the officer sitting on the man punched him, according to the footage.
    — Alex Brizee July 17, Idaho Statesman, 17 July 2026
Definition of punch

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drifts
drill
drilled
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Cite this Entry

“Drill.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/drill. Accessed 22 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on drill

Nglish: Translation of drill for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about drill

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