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
Matt Barrows, New York Times, 11 May 2026
McKenzie, a University of Michigan junior who graduated from Lindblom in 2023, met weekly with the pair to run drills and pore over writing.
—Kate Armanini, Chicago Tribune, 11 May 2026
Investors are betting this is more than phishing drills with an AI gloss.
—Lily Mae Lazarus, Fortune, 11 May 2026
Bain led the Bucs outside linebackers through a series of drills on the blocking sled.
—Rick Stroud, The Orlando Sentinel, 9 May 2026
Harbaugh, who spent a lot of Saturday’s practice at a distance from the players during individual drills, now walked directly into the middle of the offensive huddle.
—Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 9 May 2026
Fellow linebackers Trey Moore, the fourth-round pick from Texas, and Kyle Louis, the fourth-round pick from Pitt, who figure to be hybrid players (Moore a cross between defensive end and linebacker, and Louis a cross between linebacker and safety) went through drills with Rodriguez.
—Chris Perkins, Sun Sentinel, 9 May 2026
Morton, who was selected 234th overall out of Texas Tech, was a perfect 12-of-12 during full-squad drills Saturday, joined by his fellow rookies and tryout players.
—Doug Kyed, Boston Herald, 9 May 2026
But oil companies looking to expand production will want to ensure that customers are going to demand their crude by the time their new wells and drills come online.
—David Goldman, CNN Money, 4 May 2026
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
The van’s speakers played a high-volume mashup of construction sounds, Jordan Peterson lectures, Marine Corps drills, and mumbling voices.
—Charles Bethea, New Yorker, 30 Mar. 2026
Pitchers throw every day in season between competition days, bullpens, flat ground sessions and box drills off of an incline from 35 feet out.
—Shawn McFarland, Dallas Morning News, 20 Mar. 2026
Another Arsenal goal kick and Raya, after a customary bit of stud cleaning, drills the ball long.
—Stuart James, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2026
Noun
Stribling and the rest of the draft picks did not participate in the seven-on-seven sessions that followed the individual drills; the undrafted rookies and tryout players manned those.
—Matt Barrows, New York Times, 11 May 2026
McKenzie, a University of Michigan junior who graduated from Lindblom in 2023, met weekly with the pair to run drills and pore over writing.
—Kate Armanini, Chicago Tribune, 11 May 2026
Investors are betting this is more than phishing drills with an AI gloss.
—Lily Mae Lazarus, Fortune, 11 May 2026
Bain led the Bucs outside linebackers through a series of drills on the blocking sled.
—Rick Stroud, The Orlando Sentinel, 9 May 2026
Harbaugh, who spent a lot of Saturday’s practice at a distance from the players during individual drills, now walked directly into the middle of the offensive huddle.
—Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 9 May 2026
Fellow linebackers Trey Moore, the fourth-round pick from Texas, and Kyle Louis, the fourth-round pick from Pitt, who figure to be hybrid players (Moore a cross between defensive end and linebacker, and Louis a cross between linebacker and safety) went through drills with Rodriguez.
—Chris Perkins, Sun Sentinel, 9 May 2026
Morton, who was selected 234th overall out of Texas Tech, was a perfect 12-of-12 during full-squad drills Saturday, joined by his fellow rookies and tryout players.
—Doug Kyed, Boston Herald, 9 May 2026
But oil companies looking to expand production will want to ensure that customers are going to demand their crude by the time their new wells and drills come online.
—David Goldman, CNN Money, 4 May 2026
Verb
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
The van’s speakers played a high-volume mashup of construction sounds, Jordan Peterson lectures, Marine Corps drills, and mumbling voices.
—Charles Bethea, New Yorker, 30 Mar. 2026
Pitchers throw every day in season between competition days, bullpens, flat ground sessions and box drills off of an incline from 35 feet out.
—Shawn McFarland, Dallas Morning News, 20 Mar. 2026
Another Arsenal goal kick and Raya, after a customary bit of stud cleaning, drills the ball long.
—Stuart James, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for drills
Noun
-
The Moon in Aquarius moves through your 6th House and trines Venus in Gemini, making routines and helpful exchanges flow smoothly.—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
9 May 2026
-
Surgeons said patients are increasingly prioritizing results that do not interfere with their day-to-day routines.—
Lauryn Overhultz,
FOXNews.com,
9 May 2026
Noun
-
The two were reported missing May 2 after participating in African Lion, annual multinational military exercises held in Morocco.—
Akram Oubachir,
Los Angeles Times,
10 May 2026
-
Kazakhstan is also set to host joint CSTO military exercises later this year.—
Mark Temnycky,
Forbes.com,
10 May 2026
Noun
-
Skaters ages 6-11 showed off their nose grinds, kickflips and wall rides to an enthusiastic early crowd.—
Tony Le Calvez,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 May 2026
-
This is perfect for a small household that just needs enough grinds for one pot of coffee at a time.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
20 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
In team periods Saturday, Joly motioned around the slot and outside, similar to how Engram lined up throughout practices last year.—
Luca Evans,
Denver Post,
10 May 2026
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Consumers seeking greener options should look for third-party certifications from organizations like the Forest Stewardship Council, which verify sustainable forestry and manufacturing practices.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
10 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Drills.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/drills. Accessed 14 May. 2026.
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