1
as in pierced
to make a hole or series of holes in
the nerve-jangling sound when a dentist drills a tooth
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in popped
to strike with a missile from a gun
drilled the target from 100 yards away
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
C.j. Holmes, New York Daily News, 1 Mar. 2026
Later in the half, reserve guard Noam Dovrat drilled 4 of 5 3-pointers and Miami's lead reached 27 points.
—ABC News, 28 Feb. 2026
Karl-Anthony Towns, who had just drilled a triple the possession prior, was standing on the wing as the play developed.
—Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 27 Feb. 2026
Junior Kailey Susi drilled the fourth PK to give the Rams their second straight Class 7A state championship, 4-3 in PKs over Cypress Bay.
—Chris Hays, The Orlando Sentinel, 26 Feb. 2026
The bacterium was found in Scarisoara Ice Cave in Romania, where researchers drilled a 25-meter ice core representing about 13,000 years of frozen history.
—Kelly McGreal, FOXNews.com, 23 Feb. 2026
Early in overtime, Team USA sprinted up ice with a man advantage, and Zach Werenski dropped a pass to a trailing Jack Hughes, who drilled the puck into the net.
—The Sports Desk, NBC news, 22 Feb. 2026
In November, the team drilled a borehole about three kilometres deep, setting a depth record for the agency.
—Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 22 Feb. 2026
The Eagles, not known to be feared behind the line, drilled 9 of 20 to account for all but nine points of their halftime point total.
—Randy Jennings, Dallas Morning News, 21 Feb. 2026
Verb
Minutes later, Porter drilled a step-back jumper that gave the Nets their first lead of the afternoon.
—C.j. Holmes, New York Daily News, 1 Mar. 2026
Later in the half, reserve guard Noam Dovrat drilled 4 of 5 3-pointers and Miami's lead reached 27 points.
—ABC News, 28 Feb. 2026
Karl-Anthony Towns, who had just drilled a triple the possession prior, was standing on the wing as the play developed.
—Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 27 Feb. 2026
Junior Kailey Susi drilled the fourth PK to give the Rams their second straight Class 7A state championship, 4-3 in PKs over Cypress Bay.
—Chris Hays, The Orlando Sentinel, 26 Feb. 2026
The bacterium was found in Scarisoara Ice Cave in Romania, where researchers drilled a 25-meter ice core representing about 13,000 years of frozen history.
—Kelly McGreal, FOXNews.com, 23 Feb. 2026
Early in overtime, Team USA sprinted up ice with a man advantage, and Zach Werenski dropped a pass to a trailing Jack Hughes, who drilled the puck into the net.
—The Sports Desk, NBC news, 22 Feb. 2026
In November, the team drilled a borehole about three kilometres deep, setting a depth record for the agency.
—Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 22 Feb. 2026
The Eagles, not known to be feared behind the line, drilled 9 of 20 to account for all but nine points of their halftime point total.
—Randy Jennings, Dallas Morning News, 21 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Drilled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/drilled. Accessed 5 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
