drones 1 of 3

noun (1)

plural of drone
1
as in slugs
a lazy person those drones just lie around while we do all the work

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2
as in laborers
a person who does very hard or dull work after lunch my fellow drones and I shuffle back to our cubicles

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

drones

2 of 3

noun (2)

plural of drone
as in hums
a monotonous sound like that of an insect in motion heard the drone of an airplane overhead

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

drones

3 of 3

verb

present tense third-person singular of drone
1
as in buzzes
to fly, turn, or move rapidly with a fluttering or vibratory sound the sound of droning bees all around us

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

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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 drones
Noun
Russia's Defense Ministry said air defenses downed 254 Ukrainian drones overnight. — Hanna Arhirova, Arkansas Online, 29 Sep. 2026 Deep Tech is a broad term used for start-ups in artificial intelligence, semiconductors, advanced manufacturing, drones and space tech. — Priyanka Salve, CNBC, 29 Sep. 2026 Russia’s exquisite air defenses and geographic depth made no difference, and images of burning Russian bombers finally settled the debate as to whether drones are a tactical aberration or a tectonic shift in geopolitical power. — Dan Driscoll, Foreign Affairs, 28 Sep. 2026 Ukraine's long-range drones have repeatedly targeted Russian fuel depots and industrial plants that are a mainstay of Moscow's economy and war effort. — CBS News, 28 Sep. 2026 Ukraine's long-range drones have repeatedly targeted Russian fuel depots and industrial plants that are a mainstay of Moscow’s economy and war effort. — ABC News, 28 Sep. 2026 Ukraine’s long-range drones have repeatedly targeted Russian fuel depots and industrial plants that are a mainstay of Moscow’s economy and war effort. — Hanna Arhirova, Los Angeles Times, 28 Sep. 2026 Of the tens of thousands of casualties Russia suffers each month, up to 90% are inflicted by drones. — The Week Us, TheWeek, 28 Sep. 2026 Higher energy density is particularly useful for drones because batteries must provide enough power and endurance without adding excessive weight. — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 28 Sep. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for drones
  1. slugs
  2. laborers
  3. hums
  4. buzzes
  5. bums
  6. snails
  7. workers
  8. purrs
Noun
  • Families can learn about slugs, spiders, vultures and more during Creepy Critters Month at the Knoch Knolls Nature Center, 320 Knoch Knolls Road, a park district news release said.
    — Michelle Mullins, Chicago Tribune, 23 Sep. 2026
  • With the light load of powder that was behind them, these slugs couldn’t possibly have killed the tigress unless an extremely lucky shot had put them into a vital area at very close range.
    — Leslie E. Tassell, Outdoor Life, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of slugs
Noun
  • Without fiefdoms structuring the distribution of land, the division of labor, and the provision of military protection, agents of state coercion were needed to ensure that former serfs would serve as wage laborers.
    — Sophie Landres, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026
  • The copper rivets, still used across jean designs today, were initially added to prevent rips frequently experienced by miners and other laborers.
    — Catherine Santino, PEOPLE, 12 Sep. 2026
Definition of laborers
Noun
  • Very occasionally, a scooter—piled high with passengers—hums past.
    — Claire Turrell, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Sep. 2026
  • Their Hybrid Active Noise Cancellation effectively quiets daily transit hums and crowded office chatter, while custom 40mm drivers pump out rich acoustics backed by customizable Ultra Bass tuning.
    — Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of hums
Verb
  • Elimar, the ground floor restaurant, buzzes at breakfast with a spectacular spread including giant wheels of parmesan and sides of prosciutto, fruit, egg and pancake stations, and a gluten-free section.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Sep. 2026
  • That means that when such a stellar body buzzes a black hole in a rpTDE, its outer layers are stripped, but its core resists the influence of the black hole.
    — Robert Lea, Space.com, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of buzzes
Verb
  • The joy Lisa has with her RHUGT cast compared with the dread her RHOSLC cast seems to bring her really bums me out — especially because of how much of this trip is championing the sisterhood of Housewives.
    — Tom Smyth, Vulture, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Critical thinking really bums them out.
    — Ed Masley, AZCentral.com, 13 Mar. 2026
Definition of bums
Noun
  • The inflatable horses, butterflies, snails and other creatures were made by the New York artist and designer Katie Stout.
    — Samantha Conti, Footwear News, 29 Sep. 2026
  • Aquarium officials received some 500 marine animals from that operation on June 19, taking in an array of fish, sharks, clams, shrimp, prawns and tiny snails.
    — John Donegan LONG BEACH POST, Arkansas Online, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of snails
Noun
  • Containment efforts have also been hamstrung by insecurity, displacement, a health workers' strike and intense population movements.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 29 Sep. 2026
  • How the Saver’s Match will work The new Saver’s Match is part of an ongoing broader effort to help workers save for retirement.
    — Sarah Agostino, CNBC, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of workers
Noun
  • Kimie Smothermon begins each day greeted by the squeals, chirps and purrs of nearly 400 guinea pigs.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Wafting odors of 100-octane gasoline and rumbling purrs of V8 engines punched through the overcast morning at Sonoma Raceway on Saturday as the Velocity Invitational car meet entered its second day.
    — Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 31 May 2026
Definition of purrs

Browse Nearby Words

droners
drones
droning
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Cite this Entry

“Drones.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/drones. Accessed 3 Oct. 2026.

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