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
Laura Schulte, jsonline.com, 29 Sep. 2025
After junior Zander Govostes drilled a 22-yard field goal to push Xaverian’s lead to 10-0 later in the frame, Springfield Central (2-1) answered.
—Brendan Connelly, Boston Herald, 27 Sep. 2025
Inter Miami took a 1-0 lead right before the first half whistle when Tadeo Allende leaped and drilled in a header off a perfect cross from Jordi Alba.
—Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 27 Sep. 2025
Horton allowed a home run on the second pitch of the game when New York’s leadoff hitter, Francisco Lindor, drilled a 97 mph fastball into the bleachers.
—Patrick Mooney, New York Times, 24 Sep. 2025
Subsequent tax and spending changes at the federal level — passed by Congress in legislation known as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act — drilled another $783 million hole in the budget.
—Nick Coltrain, Denver Post, 22 Sep. 2025
But an offsides flag against the Bears allowed SDSU to maintain possession, and Plascencia drilled a 41-yard field goal as time expired in the half.
—Jeff Faraudo, Mercury News, 21 Sep. 2025
Back in 1985, British Gas had drilled a well just north of the crater and saved some of the sediments.
—Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 21 Sep. 2025
Wells are being drilled and completed more selectively, and producers are spacing wells farther apart to avoid draining reservoirs too quickly.
—Robert Rapier, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
Verb
It was discovered in 1986 and first drilled in the 1990s.
—Laura Schulte, jsonline.com, 29 Sep. 2025
After junior Zander Govostes drilled a 22-yard field goal to push Xaverian’s lead to 10-0 later in the frame, Springfield Central (2-1) answered.
—Brendan Connelly, Boston Herald, 27 Sep. 2025
Inter Miami took a 1-0 lead right before the first half whistle when Tadeo Allende leaped and drilled in a header off a perfect cross from Jordi Alba.
—Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 27 Sep. 2025
Horton allowed a home run on the second pitch of the game when New York’s leadoff hitter, Francisco Lindor, drilled a 97 mph fastball into the bleachers.
—Patrick Mooney, New York Times, 24 Sep. 2025
Subsequent tax and spending changes at the federal level — passed by Congress in legislation known as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act — drilled another $783 million hole in the budget.
—Nick Coltrain, Denver Post, 22 Sep. 2025
But an offsides flag against the Bears allowed SDSU to maintain possession, and Plascencia drilled a 41-yard field goal as time expired in the half.
—Jeff Faraudo, Mercury News, 21 Sep. 2025
Back in 1985, British Gas had drilled a well just north of the crater and saved some of the sediments.
—Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 21 Sep. 2025
Wells are being drilled and completed more selectively, and producers are spacing wells farther apart to avoid draining reservoirs too quickly.
—Robert Rapier, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Drilled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/drilled. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share