1
as in routines
an established and often automatic or monotonous series of actions followed when engaging in some activity
shuttling the kids between extracurricular activities is all part of the suburban drill
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
1
as in punches
to make a hole or series of holes in
the nerve-jangling sound when a dentist drills a tooth
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in shoots
to strike with a missile from a gun
drilled the target from 100 yards away
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of drills
Lauran Neergaard, Los Angeles Times, 15 June 2026
For a professional athlete, this might mean setting their phone on the sidelines to capture a specific set of drills or finishes.
—New Atlas, 14 June 2026
For about an hour, players stretched and went through various soccer drills.
—Shreyas Laddha, Kansas City Star, 12 June 2026
Seven-year-old Liam Cann even put Wilkerson through a series of soccer drills.
—Daniel Wilkerson, CBS News, 12 June 2026
The Cubs then introduced some medicine ball drills with Cabrera.
—Sahadev Sharma, New York Times, 12 June 2026
Defensive end Jared Harrison-Hunte and linebackers Trevin Wallace and Bam Martin-Scott continued to wear red non-contact jerseys while participating in drills.
—Charlotte Observer, 11 June 2026
The prospects who didn’t know about Sac State certainly do now after two days of drills.
—Joe Davidson, Sacbee.com, 11 June 2026
Then there were climate catastrophes like Hurricane Katrina, the normalization of active shooter drills at their schools and a worldwide pandemic.
—Lisa Respers France, CNN Money, 7 June 2026
Yuliya Talmazan, NBC news, 30 May 2026
Minnesota has a desire to get Edwards off the ball more next season to create more of the easy catch-and-shoot looks the superstar routinely drills.
—Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 26 May 2026
Remer drills his students on roots, language patterns and the exceptions to those patterns.
—Ben Nuckols, Fortune, 23 May 2026
By competition, Tolbert is referring to all the on-field, and off-field drills the Dolphins have been doing this offseason, which get so competitive players routinely request to see the film because a daily winner is declared, and the leader is tracked.
—Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 12 May 2026
If the samples test positive, then the company drills to validate the discovery, secures rights to the site, and sells the rights off to a mining company.
—New Atlas, 8 May 2026
The nonprofit drills wells to provide clean water.
—Michael Abeyta, CBS News, 6 May 2026
For kids, there will be a mobile video game truck, skills and drills stations, inflatables, balloon and caricature artist and a face painter.
—Kirk Kenney, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 May 2026
Embiid, a 7-foot-0, 280-pound, 32-year-old native of Cameroon who won league MVP honors in 2023, participated in some of the Sixers’ drills just 15 days removed from emergency appendectomy surgery.
—Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 24 Apr. 2026
Noun
Public health officials have been preparing for months, said Philadelphia’s Raval-Nelson, including with mock emergency drills and communications with counterparts around the country.
—Lauran Neergaard, Los Angeles Times, 15 June 2026
For a professional athlete, this might mean setting their phone on the sidelines to capture a specific set of drills or finishes.
—New Atlas, 14 June 2026
For about an hour, players stretched and went through various soccer drills.
—Shreyas Laddha, Kansas City Star, 12 June 2026
Seven-year-old Liam Cann even put Wilkerson through a series of soccer drills.
—Daniel Wilkerson, CBS News, 12 June 2026
The Cubs then introduced some medicine ball drills with Cabrera.
—Sahadev Sharma, New York Times, 12 June 2026
Defensive end Jared Harrison-Hunte and linebackers Trevin Wallace and Bam Martin-Scott continued to wear red non-contact jerseys while participating in drills.
—Charlotte Observer, 11 June 2026
The prospects who didn’t know about Sac State certainly do now after two days of drills.
—Joe Davidson, Sacbee.com, 11 June 2026
Then there were climate catastrophes like Hurricane Katrina, the normalization of active shooter drills at their schools and a worldwide pandemic.
—Lisa Respers France, CNN Money, 7 June 2026
Verb
The two countries conducted joint nuclear forces drills earlier this month.
—Yuliya Talmazan, NBC news, 30 May 2026
Minnesota has a desire to get Edwards off the ball more next season to create more of the easy catch-and-shoot looks the superstar routinely drills.
—Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 26 May 2026
Remer drills his students on roots, language patterns and the exceptions to those patterns.
—Ben Nuckols, Fortune, 23 May 2026
By competition, Tolbert is referring to all the on-field, and off-field drills the Dolphins have been doing this offseason, which get so competitive players routinely request to see the film because a daily winner is declared, and the leader is tracked.
—Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 12 May 2026
If the samples test positive, then the company drills to validate the discovery, secures rights to the site, and sells the rights off to a mining company.
—New Atlas, 8 May 2026
The nonprofit drills wells to provide clean water.
—Michael Abeyta, CBS News, 6 May 2026
For kids, there will be a mobile video game truck, skills and drills stations, inflatables, balloon and caricature artist and a face painter.
—Kirk Kenney, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 May 2026
Embiid, a 7-foot-0, 280-pound, 32-year-old native of Cameroon who won league MVP honors in 2023, participated in some of the Sixers’ drills just 15 days removed from emergency appendectomy surgery.
—Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 24 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for drills
Noun
-
Tidy home systems, and let calm routines support freedom beautifully.—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
12 June 2026
-
Many small colleges were designed for a more stable environment where academic programs, governance routines and operating assumptions could change gradually.—
Christopher Washington,
Forbes.com,
12 June 2026
Noun
-
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has assured visitors that the country has a proper security plan for the event, including specialized training for officials, planning and operational exercises, early warning systems and security measures around stadiums, airports, roads and hotels.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
14 June 2026
-
China has held major military exercises near the island.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
14 June 2026
Verb
-
Food and drink The restaurant is intimate, with seating for 40, but the food punches way above its weight.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
12 June 2026
-
Many of these nations have spent years building a footballing infrastructure that punches well above their demographic weight.—
Rebekah Evans,
TheWeek,
11 June 2026
Verb
-
Without hesitation, Miguel shoots Chet in the head, killing him instantly.—
Samantha Stutsman,
PEOPLE,
13 June 2026
-
The 15-year-old Wie shoots a 69 to finish second.—
Assistant Sports Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
12 June 2026
Verb
-
Space plants 36 to 48 inches apart, setting two strong transplants on a hill or mound.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
31 May 2026
-
See what our founder plants in the shadow of her redwoods.—
Michele Laufik,
Martha Stewart,
29 May 2026
Noun
-
Tableside dishes are a highlight, including a seasonal classic Greek salad and mouthwatering whole branzino baked in a coffee-grinds and sea-salt crust, then expertly deboned and served to perfection.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
11 June 2026
-
In a measuring cup or small bowl, stir together the yogurt, mayonnaise, chives, dill and garlic powder; season with 1 1/2 teaspoons salt and a few grinds of pepper.—
Emily Weinstein,
Twin Cities,
4 June 2026
Noun
-
In business, this manifests as predatory practices that destroy broader value.—
Steve Denning,
Forbes.com,
14 June 2026
-
But more awareness and better practices didn’t stop McAfee’s customers from continuing to get sick — in 2007, and 2011, and 2012, and 2016 — and the farm had to issue recalls more than half a dozen times after pathogens were found in its products.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
14 June 2026
Verb
-
Caulk holes around plumbing and sewer lines where roaches are likely to enter.—
Arricca Elin SanSone,
Southern Living,
4 June 2026
-
Space the planting holes 18 to 24 inches apart and space rows 3 to 6 feet apart.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
4 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Drills.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/drills. Accessed 17 Jun. 2026.
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