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
Dan Greene, New Yorker, 18 May 2026
The Belarusian Defense Ministry said that the drills will involve missile units and warplanes.
—ABC News, 18 May 2026
Though the two-time Minnesota Twins All-Star will be out of the lineup for a third straight day Saturday, Buxton was in a jovial mood after participating in a series of baseball drills, his first activity in several days.
—Dan Hayes, New York Times, 16 May 2026
Hold it across your shoulders and twist; hold it overhead and lean—there are dozens of mobility drills online built around it.
—Angela Haupt, Time, 15 May 2026
This week at Truist Park, Acuña has been doing running drills on the right field grass hours before first pitch.
—Chad Bishop, AJC.com, 15 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
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
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
But in the mostly empty stadium, without the benefits of commentary and closeups, the litany of drills felt like watching warmups for a game that never came.
—Dan Greene, New Yorker, 18 May 2026
The Belarusian Defense Ministry said that the drills will involve missile units and warplanes.
—ABC News, 18 May 2026
Though the two-time Minnesota Twins All-Star will be out of the lineup for a third straight day Saturday, Buxton was in a jovial mood after participating in a series of baseball drills, his first activity in several days.
—Dan Hayes, New York Times, 16 May 2026
Hold it across your shoulders and twist; hold it overhead and lean—there are dozens of mobility drills online built around it.
—Angela Haupt, Time, 15 May 2026
This week at Truist Park, Acuña has been doing running drills on the right field grass hours before first pitch.
—Chad Bishop, AJC.com, 15 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
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
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 Taurus moves through your 6th House of Work and Wellness, asking for simple systems, steady routines, and practical follow-through.—
Tarot.com,
The Orlando Sentinel,
15 May 2026
-
With the introduction of synthetic fabrics, laundry sorting routines changed again to accommodate fabrics that could not withstand hot water washing.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
15 May 2026
Noun
-
Senior leaders must observe the exercises and act on findings.—
David Chou,
Forbes.com,
16 May 2026
-
Rebuilding strength in his leg muscles required regular gym exercises with lead rehab physio Richard Clark, including walking on an anti-gravity treadmill, deadlifts, box jumps, split squats with weights, balancing drills and running on a small trampoline.—
Jay Harris,
New York Times,
15 May 2026
Verb
-
When Beulah’s ne’er-do-well son Rob-Will (Jai Courtney) drunkenly lobs slurs at Azul in a gas station parking lot, Azul reminds him his family’s been in Texas longer than the Jacksons — right before Rip punches Rob-Will out, of course.—
Alison Herman,
Variety,
14 May 2026
-
After beating the Detroit Pistons 117-113 in overtime Wednesday, the Cavs’ first road win of the 2026 playoffs, a win Friday at home punches those tickets.—
Joe Vardon,
New York Times,
14 May 2026
Verb
-
There’s no way that one guy on their team shoots more free throws than our team.—
Bobby Burack OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
15 May 2026
-
That water is heated by magma below and shoots back upward, bringing with it precious minerals such as copper, zinc and gold, along with the iron and sulfur found in the snail’s shell.—
Adam Kovac,
Scientific American,
15 May 2026
Verb
-
The Tupac Amaru Shakur Foundation plants peace poles in cities across the country, with an effort to create safe spaces for communities.—
Adam Thompson,
CBS News,
11 May 2026
-
Disease-resistant and productive, plants fruit until killed by frost.—
Megan Hughes,
Better Homes & Gardens,
9 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
-
Large says it was well farmed from day one, including being planted with massal selection vines and using biodynamic and organic practices.—
Mike DeSimone,
Robb Report,
17 May 2026
-
Though laid to rest with a rich assortment of personal items and grave goods, the presence of substances in her grave spoke to the rituals and treatment of the body after death, revealing practices afforded to the Roman elite.—
Maria Mocerino,
Interesting Engineering,
17 May 2026
Verb
-
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
-
The flight attendants then attempted to solve the problem by shoving napkins inside the ceiling holes.—
Colson Thayer,
PEOPLE,
2 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Drills.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/drills. Accessed 19 May. 2026.
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