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 sound of tattoo machines droning at different pitches filled the air at the fifth annual Capitol City Classic tattoo convention, on Saturday afternoon, the second day of its three-day run.
—
Camila Pedrosa,
Sacbee.com,
14 June 2026
Instead, there’s a surplus of annoying, droning noise.
—
Luke Cyphers,
Sportico.com,
11 June 2026
There’s no sound more evocative of summer than that of an old-school ice cream maker’s motor droning its monotonous naaaaaaaa with the backbeat of gas station ice and rock salt grinding and shifting against the spinning ice cream cannister.
—
Josh Miller,
Southern Living,
31 May 2026
Here, a morning coffee on the sea-view private sun terrace comes complete with diving swifts and droning dragonflies, not to mention the sound of pulling tides.
—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
6 May 2026
The constant, incessant, droning sounds in between each pitch that blare from the sound system are manufactured slop, screeching ‘NEW YORKKKKKKKK!
—
Chris Kirschner,
New York Times,
22 Apr. 2026
Teak Didgeridoo Didgeridoos are wind instruments originating from Indigenous Australian culture and are typically used for rhythmic, droning sound production.
—
Michele Laufik,
Martha Stewart,
9 Apr. 2026
The conventional gearbox also avoids the droning often associated with continuously variable transmissions (CVTs).
—
New Atlas,
29 Mar. 2026
The album opens with droning, distorted guitars, a funereal chug enlivened by unexpectedly gargantuan drums.
—
Philip Sherburne,
Pitchfork,
18 Mar. 2026
Camila Pedrosa,
Sacbee.com,
14 June 2026
Instead, there’s a surplus of annoying, droning noise.
—
Luke Cyphers,
Sportico.com,
11 June 2026
There’s no sound more evocative of summer than that of an old-school ice cream maker’s motor droning its monotonous naaaaaaaa with the backbeat of gas station ice and rock salt grinding and shifting against the spinning ice cream cannister.
—
Josh Miller,
Southern Living,
31 May 2026
Here, a morning coffee on the sea-view private sun terrace comes complete with diving swifts and droning dragonflies, not to mention the sound of pulling tides.
—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
6 May 2026
The constant, incessant, droning sounds in between each pitch that blare from the sound system are manufactured slop, screeching ‘NEW YORKKKKKKKK!
—
Chris Kirschner,
New York Times,
22 Apr. 2026
Teak Didgeridoo Didgeridoos are wind instruments originating from Indigenous Australian culture and are typically used for rhythmic, droning sound production.
—
Michele Laufik,
Martha Stewart,
9 Apr. 2026
The conventional gearbox also avoids the droning often associated with continuously variable transmissions (CVTs).
—
New Atlas,
29 Mar. 2026
The album opens with droning, distorted guitars, a funereal chug enlivened by unexpectedly gargantuan drums.
—
Philip Sherburne,
Pitchfork,
18 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for droning
Verb
-
There is something to be said about coaches who take over for successful predecessors and keep the thing humming, because that doesn't always tend to be the case.
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As his family and doctors exited the room, the humming machine lowered a ring around his body.
Verb
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The roar gave way to brooms scraping asphalt, trucks idling and fans comparing videos on their phones.
-
Last week's sell-off was triggered on Wednesday by idling – though robust – revenue projections from chipmaker Broadcom and may have been exacerbated by a call from artificial intelligence startup Anthropic for the sector to slow down its pace of advancements .
Verb
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London draws more than 30 million visitors annually, and along with its buzzing energy and endless opportunities comes one of the world’s most exciting food scenes.
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New York City is still buzzing after a historic NBA Finals in which the Knicks won their first championship in 53 years.
Verb
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But the effect on small businesses has been chilling, with thousands simply halting trade with the EU altogether, and still more considering it.
-
Ice bags and cold towels may make players feel cooler, but experts say briefly chilling a small patch of skin does not necessarily pull much heat from the body’s core.
Verb
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The Women’s Performance Jogger and Men’s Sunday Performance Jogger are particularly loved for their soft, stretchy DreamKnit fabric that’s perfect for lounging and exploring alike.
-
And for flexible seating that can be moved where it’s needed, the Twlear Indoor/Outdoor Inflatable Ottoman is perfect for lounging on the pool deck or patio.
Verb
-
Ella Bruccoleri may be playing a Bennet sister on TV, but the actress wasn’t always a fan of Jane Austen.
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According to court documents, Zimmerman was playing golf at the hotel's course throughout the day with friends.
Verb
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Indeed, Ederson has moments where he can be caught dawdling with the ball, hoping for an opening that doesn’t always arrive.
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Further, there’s no excuse for Congress to continue dawdling on farm policy.
Verb
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Martin removed his right fielder for loafing on a ball hit to the outfield.
-
Kids who used to run to the field excited to play, suddenly started loafing to the field wearing their crocs with their heads buried in their phones.
Cite this Entry
“Droning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/droning. Accessed 27 Jun. 2026.
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