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

In Japan, earthquake safety is taught in schools from an early age, rehearsed in mandatory workplace drills and practiced in neighborhood evacuation exercises. — Andrei Popoviciu, The Dial, 21 July 2026

Trevor Story has been out since May 15 after undergoing surgery for a sports hernia that had plagued him since the spring, and recently the Red Sox shortstop has become a more frequent participant in the club’s pregame drills. — Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 19 July 2026

Further on down the tunnel, a work crew of contractors stood atop a flatbed car, wielding long drills and boring into the side of the tunnel. — Evan Simko-Bednarski, New York Daily News, 19 July 2026

Throughout its duration, Agbaji rotated between training stations as campers ages 8-18 ran through drills focused on skills, teamwork and leadership. — Alexa Stone, Kansas City Star, 18 July 2026

Construction trucks lined the sides of streets as workers with drills and hammers completed luxury homes in the massive development on the lake’s northern shore. — Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 15 July 2026

When the offense would come together for drills, that’s when the fireworks started. — Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 14 July 2026

The exercises grew increasingly complex, with teams conducting drills inside buildings and responding to continuous emergency alerts. — Amelie Botbol, FOXNews.com, 14 July 2026

Before every game, Arraez runs through Washington’s famous infield drills, which require a defender to field 96 grounders from an assortment of angles and positions in about four minutes. — Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 13 July 2026

Verb

He is hyperfocused on details and drills home teaching points relentlessly. — Michael Silver, New York Times, 16 June 2026

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