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

This is possible because of a rule that allows new residential developments to be built closer to existing drill zones. —Emily Holshouser, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 May 2026

But while looking at video of Woods running a drill, Kelce noted what needed to be cleaned up by the rookie. —Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 8 May 2026

Verb

Oklahoma City jumped out to comfortable first-quarter lead – using an 11-0 run to open an 11-point lead after the Lakers knotted the score at 16 – but Rui Hachimura drilled a 3-pointer before the buzzer to bring the Lakers back within four points entering the second quarter. —Benjamin Royer, Oc Register, 8 May 2026

Jason Colson, owner of Autolab Englewood, says multiple people have come to get gas tanks in their cars repaired or replaced after thieves drilled holes in them to steal gas. —Ashley Portillo, CBS News, 8 May 2026