Synonyms of drills

drills 1 of 3

noun

plural of drill

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

• routines
• grinds
• ruts
• grooves
• patterns
• techniques
• habits
• rotes
• methods
• treadmills
• practices
• locksteps
• procedures
• strategies
• regimens
• programs
• plans
• traditions
• approaches
• styles
• customs
• tricks
• tacks
• policies
• schemes
• housekeepings
• manners
• daily dozens
• designs
• fashions
• conventions
• ways
• wonts

2

as in exercises

something done over and over in order to develop skill

doing vocabulary drills all afternoon in preparation for the test

Synonyms & Similar Words

• exercises
• practices
• lessons
• workouts
• trainings
• routines
• homeworks
• assignments
• refreshers
• brushups
• reviews

drills

2 of 3

verb (1)

present tense third-person singular of drill

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

• punches
• holes
• pierces
• pokes
• bores
• punctures
• taps
• perforates
• riddles
• cuts
• penetrates
• breaks
• splits
• broaches
• pricks
• excavates
• slashes
• grooves
• burrows (into)
• slits
• gouges
• hollows
• ruptures
• notches
• rends
• prickles
• gashes

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• fills
• plugs
• seals
• patches

2

as in shoots

to strike with a missile from a gun

drilled the target from 100 yards away

Synonyms & Similar Words

• shoots
• guns
• pops
• plugs
• drops
• kills
• destroys
• slaughters
• pistols
• slays
• brings down
• blows away
• picks off
• machine-guns
• shoots down
• fires (at)
• peppers
• shotguns
• blazes
• dispatches
• blasts (at)
• massacres
• butchers
• tommy-guns
• wipes out
• potshots
• snipes (at)
• ices
• blots out
• fells
• annihilates
• decimates
• does in
• croaks

drills

3 of 3

verb (2)

present tense third-person singular of drill

as in plants

to put or set into the ground to grow

he drills soybeans in the same rows with corn

Synonyms & Similar Words

• plants
• seeds
• puts in
• sows
• beds
• transplants
• broadcasts
• replants
• pots
• scatters
• reseeds
• overseeds

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• gathers
• reaps
• harvests

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of drills

Noun

Under Norman, the defensive linemen as a group are doing drills and emphasizing parts of the position that weren’t given as much attention previously, and Funderburg has been a chief beneficiary. — Steve Reaven, Chicago Tribune, 25 Aug. 2026

We were inducted into adolescence through active shooter drills and exit-route scans, carrying the unique anxiety of a youth caught in the crosshairs of a national crisis. — Brittany Berlin, Baltimore Sun, 25 Aug. 2026

Lemon totaled four reps in seven-on-seven drills and 16 plays during team drills Monday. — Brooks Kubena, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026

Each was seen working with a trainer during individual drills as was Brents. — Chris Perkins, Sun Sentinel, 25 Aug. 2026

Bell, who dropped three passes in his first week of limited practice work, began Tuesday’s session with a sideline catch during 1-on-1 drills. — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 25 Aug. 2026

The allies remain in close consultations on resuming the drills, the spokesperson said. — Reuters, USA Today, 24 Aug. 2026

Subsequent drills eliminate even more candidates, but not Shannon (Shannon Hayes), a local Richmond soccer enthusiast whom Ted recognizes and greets by name. — Keith Phipps, Vulture, 19 Aug. 2026

The drills this year were designed to adapt to North Korea’s evolving capabilities and would incorporate training to counter drones, GPS disruption and cyberattacks, a spokesperson for US Forces Korea said last week. — Gawon Bae, CNN Money, 19 Aug. 2026

Verb

Berrios is sidelined right now by a soft tissue injury but was running pretty well on the side of team drills Monday. — Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 24 Aug. 2026

Other notes from Panthers-Jaguars practice First-round pick rookie offensive tackle Monroe Freeling held his own in one-on-one drills as well as team drills in practice on Wednesday. — Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 20 Aug. 2026

The plan was to use the Ulchi Freedom Shield drills to assess systems so Seoul could assume wartime operational control, Yu Ji-hoon, a research fellow at the Korea Institute for Defense Analyses, wrote in The Diplomat. — Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 19 Aug. 2026

Taiwan has stepped up the intensity of the Han Kuang drills, incorporating reservists and more civilians into the exercises with a focus on real-world scenarios. — ABC News, 13 Aug. 2026

With Bosa yet to practice in team drills all camp and sidelined the past week with knee tendinitis amid his ACL comeback, the 49ers need to accelerate Height’s participation. — Cam Inman, Mercury News, 13 Aug. 2026

The Jets and Buccaneers were in the middle of special teams drills late in practice when Stiggers came to the sideline and briefly lost consciousness. — Cbs New York Team, CBS News, 13 Aug. 2026

Cam Lewis, after exiting practice Saturday with an undisclosed injury, remained out of team drills Tuesday. — Dan Wiederer, New York Times, 12 Aug. 2026

On the plus side of injury news, Dolphins defensive end Josh Uche participated in Wednesday’s session after he was pulled out of team drills Monday and began running off to the side of practice. — David Furones, Sun Sentinel, 12 Aug. 2026