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

As this year's higher crude oil prices made drilling more lucrative, the associated volumes of gas coming to market have also risen, regardless of the commodity's price or demand. — Harvey Stober, CNBC, 23 Oct. 2026

The former Duke star was 5 for 8 from the three-point line, drilling a couple from Steph Curry range. — Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 22 Oct. 2026

Endurance Energy plans to avoid this issue in the future by drilling deeper wells to access more fluid. — Jeremy Hsu, ArsTechnica, 19 Oct. 2026

Public-health and environmental advocates have also raised concerns about drilling near communities, including potential air- and water-quality harms. — Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026

Suzuki does not panic despite the increasing pressure, and picks out an impressive, splitting pass into the feet of striker Nicolas Jackson, drilling the ball straight through the middle of Hull’s defensive shape. — Thom Harris, New York Times, 14 Oct. 2026

The strings were installed by drilling holes with hot water, lowering the modules into the ice and allowing the holes to refreeze. — Daniella McCahey, The Conversation, 12 Oct. 2026

As the chief explained it, the man was drilling a hole in the limestone mine when a rock fell in. — Ricky Sayer, CBS News, 8 Oct. 2026

Rodriguez was drilling a mounting hole the day after Thanksgiving in 2024. — Joe Rubin, Sacbee.com, 8 Oct. 2026