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
On the same phone, the police recovered a nearly three-minute video, very dimly lit, of a small figure working at the trunk of a large tree, a chainsaw droning in the background, leaning his whole weight into the job until the crackling collapse began.
—
Rosa Lyster, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025
Other times, the book sounds like a droning Christmas-card letter, as Sarkozy endlessly tallies his friends and foes.
—Lauren Collins, New Yorker, 13 Dec. 2025
Rosa Lyster, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025
Other times, the book sounds like a droning Christmas-card letter, as Sarkozy endlessly tallies his friends and foes.
—Lauren Collins, New Yorker, 13 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for droning
Verb
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Gilberg considered the question, hands clasped beneath his chin, the traffic outside humming expectantly.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
13 Jan. 2026
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That paragraph distills, with humming intensity, a central activity of this era, of the subterranean lives of people who stay up all night on Adderall and adrenaline.—
Niela Orr,
Vulture,
13 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Later, the women were in a idling vehicle when Brown allegedly left his Jeep, walked toward them and fired at the car, court records show.—
Nate Gartrell,
Mercury News,
6 Jan. 2026
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David McNew / Getty Images Marquez helped convert Pasadena's fire fleet to renewable diesel fuel so that his crews wouldn't keep breathing in the emissions from idling trucks.—
Kara Finnstrom,
CBS News,
5 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Fans were buzzing Thursday evening at a playoff pep rally at the Wintrust Sports Complex in southwest suburban Bedford Park, where the village hosted a Ben Johnson lookalike contest.—
Victor Jacobo,
CBS News,
9 Jan. 2026
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The top line with Viggo Bjorck and Stenberg was buzzing.—
Joe Smith,
New York Times,
6 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Astringent Hachiya persimmons must fully soften at room temperature before eating because chilling too early locks in bitterness.—
Randi Gollin,
Martha Stewart,
11 Jan. 2026
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Adding a splash of ice water and chilling the dough helps prevent the cookies from spreading too much in the oven, resulting in the perfect texture.—
Lizzy Briskin,
Better Homes & Gardens,
10 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Whether lounging in white wicker rocking chairs or eating outside off wrought iron tables, some patio furniture will always be reminiscent of her.—
Shea Simmons,
Southern Living,
12 Jan. 2026
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Spend your days exploring the biosphere or lounging on daybeds and in private gazebos on the beach.—
Gemma Price,
Travel + Leisure,
11 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Still, investors now have to make the tricky balance between hedging against geopolitical risks and playing the AI theme.—
Yeo Boon Ping,
CNBC,
15 Jan. 2026
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Throughout her life, her doting mom has snapped some adorable pictures of her hanging out with cousins, showing love to her siblings or playing dress up and looking just like a mini-me.—
Andrea Wurzburger,
PEOPLE,
15 Jan. 2026
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
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Faster pit stops could also help unlock sales for electric two-wheelers, which have been slow to catch on due to dawdling charge times and limited riding range.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
30 Mar. 2023
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 Jan. 2026.
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