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
Noun
-
Toads help control snails, slugs, caterpillars, and other invertebrates—pests that have the potential to harm your garden plants, says Amarello.—
Michelle Mastro,
Martha Stewart,
6 May 2026
-
Similarly, slugs and snails are less likely to travel across jagged surfaces, which can make pine cones a helpful barrier around vulnerable plants like lettuce or hostas.—
Jessica Safavimehr,
Southern Living,
6 May 2026
Noun
-
The region has some of the world’s longest working hours, with laborers there often clocking more than 2,000 hours a year compared to around 1,700 in the US, and close to 1,400 in Germany.—
Jeronimo Gonzalez,
semafor.com,
8 May 2026
-
Charlotte doesn’t have nearly enough skilled laborers to meet the demand for future transportation projects, according to a report presented at a City Council committee meeting on Monday.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
6 May 2026
Noun
-
Libra September 23 – October 22 Libra, teamwork hums when roles feel fair.—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
12 May 2026
-
The broader economy hums along on the same frequency.—
Liz Hoffman,
semafor.com,
6 May 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
Noun
-
About 20 races took place at Folsom City Lions Park, with up to nine snails per heat climbing one-foot poles; Mayor Justin Raithel motivated his snail with lettuce and made the semifinals before finishing fourth.—
Sacbee.com,
Sacbee.com,
11 May 2026
-
Pots simmered on the stove with paella, fruit rotted in bowls next to the junk mail, and the pantry was full of old rusted cans of strange unearthly edibles—bamboo shoots and snails in sauce and lemons floating in brine.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
8 May 2026
Noun
-
Alarmed by growing difficulties for skyway-level residents, workers and shop owners, Kehmeier joined forces with fellow skyway denizens to launch Friends of the Skyway in January.—
Frederick Melo,
Twin Cities,
10 May 2026
-
Lately, a solid consumer has left retailers confident enough to hire more workers to stock shelves or staff cash registers.—
Alex Harring,
CNBC,
10 May 2026
Noun
-
Honey is ready to bring love, purrs and playful cuddles to her forever home.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
8 Mar. 2026
-
Washington delivers the dialogue with a thrilling range from purrs to roars, all imbued with an authoritative swagger.—
Brady Brickner-Wood,
New Yorker,
21 Jan. 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
Cite this Entry
“Drones.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/drones. Accessed 15 May. 2026.
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