DRILLED Synonyms: 82 Similar and Opposite Words

drilled 1 of 2

verb (1)

past tense of drill

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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in popped

to strike with a missile from a gun drilled the target from 100 yards away

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drilled

2 of 2

verb (2)

past tense of drill

as in planted

to put or set into the ground to grow he drills soybeans in the same rows with corn

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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 drilled

Verb

Youngquist has drilled large-diameter boreholes to depths exceeding 8,000 feet. — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 21 Sep. 2026 Luna 16 drilled about 35 centimeters into the moon to collect its core sample. — Tariq Malik, Space.com, 20 Sep. 2026 But various companies over the years have drilled and explored the site, building evidence that the mine still has lots to offer. — Sarah Cutler, Idaho Statesman, 19 Sep. 2026 In the bottom of the second, Andrew Knizner drilled a two-run shot to left off Nick Pivetta to cut the Giants’ deficit to 5-2. — ABC News, 13 Sep. 2026 Here against Hull, Suzuki drilled a low pass into Jackson’s feet. — Aston Villa, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026 Miles of steel cables were drilled at least a foot deep into the mountain rock, to ensure dozens of climbers are safe to traverse the mountainside simultaneously. — Sacbee.com, 5 Sep. 2026 After getting sick, Kimbrel threw one pitch and drilled Miami’s Kyle Stowers in the foot. — Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 4 Sep. 2026 Nothing has been cut, drilled, or welded on the original car, meaning the conversion is fully reversible. — Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 2 Sep. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for drilled

Verb

On the second episode Caitlin’s dad gets his ears pierced for the first time.

— Howard Cohen, Miami Herald, 15 Sep. 2026
Roma arrived at the World Trade Center while both towers stood defiantly tall, each pierced by Boeing 767s, bleeding with jet fuel and spewing smoke that promised to eventually bring them down.

— Danya Gainor, CNN Money, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of pierced

Verb

As a bonus, to fully un-break the Heartbreakers’ circle, Lynch stepped aside from the drums for the final number to let lat his successor, Steve Ferrone, step in for the finale, and 21st-century utility man Scott Thurston popped in as well.

— Chris Willman, Variety, 17 Sep. 2026
The New Balance 990v7 popped up suddenly Wednesday on a New York City billboard.

— Ian Servantes, Footwear News, 17 Sep. 2026

Definition of popped

Verb

One punched him in the face, and another stabbed him once in the buttocks, police said.

— Jesse Zanger, CBS News, 14 Sep. 2026
After the Giants punched their ticket by sweeping two games from the Ports, Haines confirmed that Flora would take the ball one more time in next week’s best-of-3 series against Lake Elsinore.

— Andrew Baggarly, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of punched

Verb

If plugged pores or excess keratin is the bigger issue, gentle exfoliators such as lactic or salicylic acid can loosen excess dead skin and keratin.

— Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 19 Sep. 2026
The worker told investigators that a drain valve had been plugged since last year and never closed completely.

— ABC News, ABC News, 4 Sep. 2026

Definition of plugged

Verb

Another waning idea is the guess that space rocks may have seeded life on this planet.

— Sarah Scoles, Scientific American, 15 Sep. 2026
One that is gaining steam, sources said, is a plan to create that new fund, seeded with money from both owners and outside investors.

— Eben Novy-Williams, Sportico.com, 10 Sep. 2026

Definition of seeded

Verb

The dog’s ribs poked out, her skin was irritated and red, and patches of fur were missing — a possible sign of mange.

— Sandra McDonald, Los Angeles Times, 15 Sep. 2026
In between, Arsenal had plenty of attacking joy, particularly when the slick positional rotations of their right flank poked at the weak spot on the left of Chelsea’s defence.

— Liam Twomey, New York Times, 7 Sep. 2026

Definition of poked

Verb

Eric Ollerenshaw produces the film, which was shot in the Midlands with Wolverhampton company New Lion Films co-producing, giving the project a regional footprint outside London.

— Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 21 Sep. 2026
The Fowlie Audience Award went to Bucks Harbor, directed by Pete Muller, a photojournalist making his feature debut with a story shot in the lobstering village in Downeast Maine.

— Matthew Carey, Deadline, 21 Sep. 2026

Definition of shot

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“Drilled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/drilled. Accessed 22 Sep. 2026.

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