1
as in humming
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 idling
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 droning
The glint and thrum of Y2K aesthetics—as contrasted with the droning conservatism of the white-collar office—read as anticipatory rather than melancholic, looking toward a future liberated from systems of old.
—
Lauren Michele Jackson, New Yorker, 23 Aug. 2025
Lauren Michele Jackson, New Yorker, 23 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for droning
Verb
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Meanwhile, the penalty kill is also humming at a rate unseen in Denver for a long time.—
Corey Masisak,
Denver Post,
8 Nov. 2025
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Their offense is humming (averaging nearly 36 points per game), the offensive line continues to perform at a high level, allowing very few sacks, and the defense has been feeding off momentum with key plays in recent outings.—
Ben Verbrugge,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Nov. 2025
Verb
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The transcripts moved with her, idling among her papers.—
Michael Schulman,
New Yorker,
3 Nov. 2025
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Difficulty accelerating, misfiring, shuttering, and rough idling can indicate bad gasoline.—
Kamron Sanders,
Better Homes & Gardens,
19 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Shaw-naé explains how then-mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani is dying to speak with her, how the Venmo CEO invited her to some fancy app meeting, all while Al Roker is buzzing on her phone to give an update on Friday’s upcoming dinner service.—
Mackenzie Cummings-Grady,
Billboard,
5 Nov. 2025
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Best Time to Visit The best times to visit São Paulo are between September and November, when the city is buzzing with events—don’t miss the São Paulo Biennial and the Formula 1 São Paulo Grand Prix.—
Jade Moyano,
Travel + Leisure,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
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In the leadup to its debut, the Apple TV/Sony Pictures Television show has been shrouded in secrecy — a decision that lends itself supremely well to a mystery-box sci-fi thriller that is equal parts philosophical conundrum and blood-chilling horror.—
Natalie Oganesyan,
Deadline,
8 Nov. 2025
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Other snapshots included one of Graham chilling in a pink sweatsuit in the backseat of a car, her $1,250 dress and heels in a pile beside her.—
Michelle Lee,
PEOPLE,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
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While leggings and sweatpants are a great option for lounging, the need for a polished pair shouldn’t be overlooked.—
Rachel Trujillo,
PEOPLE,
7 Nov. 2025
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For folks whose idea of camping looks more like lounging in a cabin, these cozy shearling slippers, on sale for $70, are the perfect companion for morning coffee on the porch.—
Alice Bennett,
Travel + Leisure,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Nobody will hold Gjoshe to his hopeful timescale of playing again within a month.—
Philip Buckingham,
New York Times,
8 Nov. 2025
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What's the most difficult part of playing a character like Peter?—
Lauren Huff,
Entertainment Weekly,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Further, there’s no excuse for Congress to continue dawdling on farm policy.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
25 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Within a few moments, an antlerless deer emerged, loafing along toward Ronnie, completely unalarmed.—
Jim Moore,
Outdoor Life,
8 Oct. 2025
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She is seen going over the shots planned for the next day and remembering that some loafing around is planned.—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
5 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Droning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/droning. Accessed 15 Nov. 2025.
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