1
as in pierced
to make a hole or series of holes in
the nerve-jangling sound when a dentist drills a tooth
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2
as in popped
to strike with a missile from a gun
drilled the target from 100 yards away
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Recent Examples of drilled
Paige Gilliard, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Apr. 2026
The Avs fell in overtime, 3-2, when the Golden Knights’ Jack Eichel drilled a wrist shot past Avs goalie Mackenzie Blackwood.
—Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 12 Apr. 2026
Gets drilled up high in the wrist his second at-bat and then third one takes a good swing and then throws the next one head-high.
—ABC News, 8 Apr. 2026
There’s nothing wrong with a big-league ballplayer getting sick and tired of being drilled over and over and over by the same team.
—Steve Buckley, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2026
Pederson advanced to second on Donovan's throwing error at third base, then scored on Carter's base hit before Higashioka drilled an 0-1 pitch to left.
—CBS News, 8 Apr. 2026
An Illinois-Chicago recruit, Canvin drilled a two-run double during a five-run second inning for the Spartans.
—Patrick Z. McGavin, Chicago Tribune, 8 Apr. 2026
In the summer of 1969, less than six months after the spill, several additional wells were drilled from Platform A.
—Jeffrey Marlow, New Yorker, 5 Apr. 2026
After trailing by 10 in the final minute of regulation, the Bruins mounted a comeback, and Perry drilled a 30-foot shot in the final seconds to extend the game.
—Aaron Heisen, Daily News, 4 Apr. 2026
Verb
Their family’s history in oil dates back to the early 20th century, when their grandmother’s husband, George Allan Hancock, drilled wells in Los Angeles during the industry’s heyday.
—Paige Gilliard, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Apr. 2026
The Avs fell in overtime, 3-2, when the Golden Knights’ Jack Eichel drilled a wrist shot past Avs goalie Mackenzie Blackwood.
—Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 12 Apr. 2026
Gets drilled up high in the wrist his second at-bat and then third one takes a good swing and then throws the next one head-high.
—ABC News, 8 Apr. 2026
There’s nothing wrong with a big-league ballplayer getting sick and tired of being drilled over and over and over by the same team.
—Steve Buckley, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2026
Pederson advanced to second on Donovan's throwing error at third base, then scored on Carter's base hit before Higashioka drilled an 0-1 pitch to left.
—CBS News, 8 Apr. 2026
An Illinois-Chicago recruit, Canvin drilled a two-run double during a five-run second inning for the Spartans.
—Patrick Z. McGavin, Chicago Tribune, 8 Apr. 2026
In the summer of 1969, less than six months after the spill, several additional wells were drilled from Platform A.
—Jeffrey Marlow, New Yorker, 5 Apr. 2026
After trailing by 10 in the final minute of regulation, the Bruins mounted a comeback, and Perry drilled a 30-foot shot in the final seconds to extend the game.
—Aaron Heisen, Daily News, 4 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Drilled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/drilled. Accessed 16 Apr. 2026.
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