droned

verb

past tense of drone
1
as in hummed
to fly, turn, or move rapidly with a fluttering or vibratory sound the sound of droning bees all around us

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in lounged
to spend time doing nothing instead of getting a job, he preferred to drone and live off his parents

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of droned Black Frankenstein, Superfly Snuka droned, without looking up from his clipboard. — Literary Hub, 7 Aug. 2026 Helicopters roar overhead, reminding me that last week people were worried the Oscars were going to get droned. — Rachel Handler, Vulture, 16 Mar. 2026 Temperatures rose above 100 degrees Fahrenheit, air conditioners droned, and power cuts followed. — Nik Kowsar, Time, 2 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for droned
  1. hummed
  2. lounged
  3. buzzed
  4. idled
  5. zipped
  6. lazed
  7. played
  8. strolled
Verb
  • The bleachers were packed, and for the first time all day the air hummed with genuine enthusiasm.
    — Rachel Monroe, New Yorker, 17 Aug. 2026
  • As the tattoo machine hummed across her leg, Savanna Georges watched another chapter of her faith take shape in ink.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of hummed
Verb
  • There’s an outdoor kids club with a schedule of activities and a babysitting service, but most youngsters looked happy enough playing on the sand while parents lounged nearby or got involved in the digging.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Laughing, smoking cigarettes, and sipping bottles of Red Stripe, numerous packs of Black folks lounged around the joint.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of lounged
Verb
  • The two 98-seat Embraer-190 regional jets from South African airline Airlink buzzed Cape Town’s DHL stadium on Saturday just before the match between the country’s Springboks and New Zealand’s All Blacks teams.
    — Pete Muntean, CNN Money, 2 Sep. 2026
  • As for Haaland, whose long, pale-blonde hair nabbed countless headlines during the World Cup, buzzed it off and filmed the whole thing for YouTube.
    — Kara Nesvig, Allure, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of buzzed
Verb
  • When a power outage knocked out a third of San Francisco’s traffic lights last December, at least 60 Waymos abruptly idled mid-road, causing severe gridlock and delays.
    — Rogé Karma, The Atlantic, 19 Aug. 2026
  • The former home of Belden had a commercial use in recent years and idled for six years before being acquired by his group.
    — Pamela McLoughlin, Hartford Courant, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of idled
Verb
  • While there aren’t windows, open the outer canvas flap, keep the screen zipped, and let the light pour in.
    — Jessica Chapel, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 Sep. 2026
  • Ortiz wore a jacket zipped over his uniform, while Simon hoped to look casual with a laundry bag.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of zipped
Verb
  • The pigs that would soon enough become lunch lazed in the compost-pile mud in front of a five-star-hotel-worthy view of the Cretan Sea.
    — Shannon McMahon, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 July 2026
  • Further on, sandy-colored cows lazed in the mid-morning sun.
    — Sarah Henry, AZCentral.com, 18 Jan. 2026
Definition of lazed
Verb
  • Upon the Lincoln’s arrival in the morning, service members could be seen working aboard the deck as loudspeakers played announcements about the process for disembarkation.
    — Mosheh Gains, NBC news, 2 Sep. 2026
  • For Jaissle, a defensive midfielder who had preferably played in the Premier League was essential.
    — George Caulkin, New York Times, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of played
Verb
  • The couple strolled through Hampstead with their two dogs in tow.
    — Juliana Ukiomogbe, InStyle, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Just last week, Minnesota strolled into San Francisco, delivered a clinical beatdown and strutted off the floor like brash royalty, reminding the peasants of their place.
    — Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of strolled

Browse Nearby Words

drone
droned
droner
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Cite this Entry

“Droned.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/droned. Accessed 6 Sep. 2026.

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