1
as in slugs
a lazy person
those drones just lie around while we do all the work
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in hums
a monotonous sound like that of an insect in motion
heard the drone of an airplane overhead
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in buzzes
to fly, turn, or move rapidly with a fluttering or vibratory sound
the sound of droning bees all around us
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in lounges
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
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Recent Examples of drones
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 10 May 2026
If there were a fight over Taiwan, the island or the US could use drones to target Chinese ships or aircraft carrying possibly hundreds of thousands of PLA troops across the Taiwan Strait for an assault and occupation.
—Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 10 May 2026
The operation deployed frigates, vessels, helicopters and drones.
—Akram Oubachir, Los Angeles Times, 10 May 2026
Cartels have been using drones and more elaborate weapons for years to wage war, a sign of how entrenched the conflict is in regions like Guerrero, where cartels have splintered into rival factions.
—Megan Janetsky, Fortune, 10 May 2026
Until now, drones simply weren't capable of delivering a full family meal.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 10 May 2026
Later that evening, police used drones to survey the house and spotted a body in the back of it.
—Jakob Rodgers, Mercury News, 10 May 2026
Search efforts involved 15-20 police dogs, drones, boats and additional rescue teams who covered the surrounding area on foot, Breault says.
—Sam Gillette, People.com, 22 Mar. 2025
The Ukrainian air force reported that Russia fired 214 exploding drones and decoys in the latest wave of attacks.
—arkansasonline.com, 22 Mar. 2025
Noun
Squad and platoon leaders can quickly launch drones to scout terrain, identify enemy positions and adjust movements without waiting for external support.
—Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 10 May 2026
If there were a fight over Taiwan, the island or the US could use drones to target Chinese ships or aircraft carrying possibly hundreds of thousands of PLA troops across the Taiwan Strait for an assault and occupation.
—Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 10 May 2026
The operation deployed frigates, vessels, helicopters and drones.
—Akram Oubachir, Los Angeles Times, 10 May 2026
Cartels have been using drones and more elaborate weapons for years to wage war, a sign of how entrenched the conflict is in regions like Guerrero, where cartels have splintered into rival factions.
—Megan Janetsky, Fortune, 10 May 2026
Until now, drones simply weren't capable of delivering a full family meal.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 10 May 2026
Later that evening, police used drones to survey the house and spotted a body in the back of it.
—Jakob Rodgers, Mercury News, 10 May 2026
Search efforts involved 15-20 police dogs, drones, boats and additional rescue teams who covered the surrounding area on foot, Breault says.
—Sam Gillette, People.com, 22 Mar. 2025
The Ukrainian air force reported that Russia fired 214 exploding drones and decoys in the latest wave of attacks.
—arkansasonline.com, 22 Mar. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for drones
Verb
-
His body may be showing its age, but his mind still hums like the Big House before kickoff.—
Mike Bianchi,
The Orlando Sentinel,
6 May 2026
-
Now, with the case of Reiner, the machinery hums again.—
Maxwell Adler,
Vanity Fair,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Niantic, a village within the town of East Lyme in southeastern Connecticut, buzzes with local energy.—
Amy Thomas,
Travel + Leisure,
12 May 2026
-
An Israeli drone buzzes over a sea of debris in northern Gaza, where homes were turned into mass graves.—
Anas Baba,
NPR,
6 May 2026
Verb
-
But the few times they’re forced to play their hurt feelings sincerely are as forced as the moment when Grace zips her gory wedding gown back on before it’s even been washed.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Mar. 2026
-
As of now, the areas with the greatest threat to see any significant accumulation would be the farthest southeastern parts of our region before the storm zips off to the east.—
Bill Kelly,
CBS News,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Critical thinking really bums them out.—
Ed Masley,
AZCentral.com,
13 Mar. 2026
-
Then Jason and Thor shower together, each lathering the other’s back and bums up with fewer orgasms than an old Herbal Essences commercial.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
4 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Matt Damon plays a Navy admiral in a submarine, who’s getting updates from his team on a terrifying creature in the murky waters.—
Rima Parikh,
Vulture,
10 May 2026
-
The only loss in that streak was against The Academy of Central Florida — which plays outside the FHSAA.—
Buddy Collings,
The Orlando Sentinel,
10 May 2026
Verb
-
This nifty side table chills beverages for hours while doubling as a convenient spot to set down drinks or snacks.—
Toni Sutton,
PEOPLE,
21 Apr. 2026
-
The current crisis in Iran has sent memories bubbling to the surface for the collective, and chills down the spines of viewers.—
Chloe Shrager,
Los Angeles Times,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
And at the counter, where chef and guest are separated by little more than a stretch of the hand, everything rests on precision, presence and the quiet thrill of relinquishing control to the chef’s capable hands.—
Rachel Ingram,
Robb Report,
10 May 2026
-
And sure, animals such as starfish and flatworms can reproduce by cloning themselves—but at the end of the day, in most species, the survival of animals rests on their mothers.—
Jackie Flynn Mogensen,
Scientific American,
10 May 2026
Verb
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The footage shows officers carefully opening the bathroom door before the confused bear casually strolls out and heads down the sidewalk to freedom while officers and bystanders scatter out of the way.—
Amber Harding OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
11 May 2026
-
House proud, Carnevali strolls out onto one of the six pitches.—
James Horncastle,
New York Times,
7 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Drones.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/drones. Accessed 13 May. 2026.
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