Synonyms of drilling

drilling 1 of 2

verb (1)

present participle of drill

1

as in piercing

to make a hole or series of holes in

the nerve-jangling sound when a dentist drills a tooth

Synonyms & Similar Words

• piercing
• punching
• poking
• perforating
• puncturing
• tapping
• boring
• holing
• riddling
• cutting
• penetrating
• excavating
• broaching
• breaking
• splitting
• slashing
• pricking
• grooving
• gouging
• hollowing
• prickling
• slitting
• rupturing
• notching
• burrowing (into)
• rending
• gashing

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• filling
• sealing
• plugging
• patching

2

as in shooting

to strike with a missile from a gun

drilled the target from 100 yards away

Synonyms & Similar Words

• shooting
• plugging
• popping
• gunning
• killing
• destroying
• dropping
• slaughtering
• slaying
• bringing down
• picking off
• butchering
• firing (at)
• shooting down
• blowing away
• blazing
• peppering
• blasting (at)
• sniping (at)
• dispatching
• potshotting
• massacring
• felling
• decimating
• wiping out
• shotgunning
• pistoling
• annihilating
• blotting out
• machine-gunning
• icing
• doing in
• croaking
• tommy-gunning

drilling

2 of 2

verb (2)

present participle of drill

as in planting

to put or set into the ground to grow

he drills soybeans in the same rows with corn

Synonyms & Similar Words

• planting
• seeding
• putting in
• sowing
• replanting
• transplanting
• broadcasting
• bedding
• potting
• scattering
• reseeding
• overseeding

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• harvesting
• gathering
• reaping

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of drilling

Verb

Mapping minerals before drilling The Colorado demonstration is also tied to a broader push to use quantum sensing for domestic mineral mapping. — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 20 Aug. 2026

Founded by former truck driver Chace Barber, the company is focusing on diesel-electric tech to power real working vehicles like log loaders, crane trucks, and drilling rigs. — Abhimanyu Ghoshal, New Atlas, 16 Aug. 2026

As its name suggests, the beetle bores into trees, drilling tunnels to create breeding galleries. — Jack Bantock, CNN Money, 13 Aug. 2026

Then, in 1987, in the village of Bourakébougou, Mali, people drilling a water well noticed a breeze blowing out of the hole. — IEEE Spectrum, 11 Aug. 2026

The nuclear waste well will require drilling it about 22 inches wide instead, nearly triple the size. — Jordan Blum, Fortune, 9 Aug. 2026

Imagine a White player drilling a Black opponent above the neck, getting tossed and then immediately posting a racial accusation aimed at the opposing team. — Alejandro Avila Outkick, FOXNews.com, 9 Aug. 2026

Construction teams last week began drilling the first of 65 on-site wells that will reach depths of 820 feet, where the temperature is roughly 55 degrees year-round. — Brian J. Rogal, Chicago Tribune, 6 Aug. 2026

Another effective herbicide treatment involves drilling holes 8 inches deep into the stump and pouring herbicide into the holes. — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 2 Aug. 2026