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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of drills
Jack Lang, New York Times, 11 Oct. 2025
But on Friday, he was spotted taking part in individual drills.
—Matt Audilet, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Oct. 2025
The tool is not drills or dynamite.
—IEEE Spectrum, 9 Oct. 2025
Nacua was used to being the first one to go during drills, but that quickly changed when Adams joined the fray.
—Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 8 Oct. 2025
First, the Heat’s drills are designed to get players in the shape required to consistently play this up-and-down style.
—Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 6 Oct. 2025
From explosiveness to on-ball pressure to spot-shooting and post moves, the drills encompassed many different facets of what this Mizzou team can do.
—Ally Schniepp, Kansas City Star, 5 Oct. 2025
Eventually the in-studio warm-up comic, Don Barris, a jovial pro with a Taftian mustache, led a few applause drills.
—Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 3 Oct. 2025
Cruise lines developed virtual muster drills to accommodate social distancing, and most have retained that format, according to Adam Duckworth, president and founder of Travelmation.
—Zach Wichter, USA TODAY, 14 Mar. 2025
Jon Greenberg, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2025
Parsons attended Cowboys practices during training camp but has not participated in any team drills.
—Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 8 Aug. 2025
After sitting out of Saturday’s team drills with arm soreness, Sanders was a full participant at Monday’s practice, but Flacco took all of the first-team reps during the 11-on-11 portion, according to ESPN.
—Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 4 Aug. 2025
Noun
There are sprints, passing drills… a few lengths of backstroke.
—Jack Lang, New York Times, 11 Oct. 2025
But on Friday, he was spotted taking part in individual drills.
—Matt Audilet, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Oct. 2025
The tool is not drills or dynamite.
—IEEE Spectrum, 9 Oct. 2025
Nacua was used to being the first one to go during drills, but that quickly changed when Adams joined the fray.
—Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 8 Oct. 2025
First, the Heat’s drills are designed to get players in the shape required to consistently play this up-and-down style.
—Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 6 Oct. 2025
From explosiveness to on-ball pressure to spot-shooting and post moves, the drills encompassed many different facets of what this Mizzou team can do.
—Ally Schniepp, Kansas City Star, 5 Oct. 2025
Eventually the in-studio warm-up comic, Don Barris, a jovial pro with a Taftian mustache, led a few applause drills.
—Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 3 Oct. 2025
Cruise lines developed virtual muster drills to accommodate social distancing, and most have retained that format, according to Adam Duckworth, president and founder of Travelmation.
—Zach Wichter, USA TODAY, 14 Mar. 2025
Verb
If New England drills the Dolphins, head coach Mike McDaniel might not make it to Week 3.
—Jon Greenberg, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2025
Parsons attended Cowboys practices during training camp but has not participated in any team drills.
—Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 8 Aug. 2025
After sitting out of Saturday’s team drills with arm soreness, Sanders was a full participant at Monday’s practice, but Flacco took all of the first-team reps during the 11-on-11 portion, according to ESPN.
—Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 4 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for drills
Noun
-
The result is a smarter, more agile manufacturing environment where robots can interpret a machine’s job, understand processing routines, and assess operational status in real time.—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
13 Oct. 2025
-
Alfouti talks about self-awareness before self-care, promotes walking goals instead of weight goals, and adapts Zumba routines to Khaliji and dabke dance styles.—
Manal Albarakati,
semafor.com,
13 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Meanwhile, anti-ship training exercises will be conducted in the East China Sea and the Philippine Sea, both marginal seas of the western Pacific.—
Ryan Chan,
MSNBC Newsweek,
14 Oct. 2025
-
Plans, in the realm of submarine cables, are purely contingent exercises.—
Samanth Subramanian,
The Dial,
14 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
It’s finished with a generous sprinkling of salt and a few grinds of black pepper.—
Susan Selasky,
Freep.com,
31 Aug. 2025
-
And Destiny 2 has had some bad grinds in the past.—
Paul Tassi,
Forbes.com,
25 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
The European Union’s antitrust authority has fined luxury brands Gucci, Loewe and Chloé a total of more than 157 million euros alleging the companies have engaged in anticompetitive pricing practices.—
Martino Carrera,
Footwear News,
14 Oct. 2025
-
Ghost, who will turn two on October 27, was born blind and deaf due to bad breeding practices, which his owners are working to raise awareness of.—
Maria Azzurra Volpe,
MSNBC Newsweek,
14 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Drills.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/drills. Accessed 20 Oct. 2025.
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