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 singer-songwriter’s second album spotlights her wayward, darting mind and steadily droning guitar, with help from a constellation of fellow indie rockers from New York City and the Hudson Valley.
—
Jayson Greene, Pitchfork, 3 Mar. 2026
Whereas the film is madcap and edgy—even bratty—the Wuthering Heights album is sullen and stately, built upon strings and droning electronics.
—Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 24 Feb. 2026
As far as Garland’s projects go, Devs comes closest to matching the paranoia and droning anxiety of the multi-hyphenate’s literary work.
—Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 31 Jan. 2026
The standout craft element here is a powerful horror score by Hildur Gudnadottir that ranges from solemn, quasi-ecclesiastical passages to gut-churning, droning soundscapes.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 13 Jan. 2026
The harsh grinding of the elevated cable system is heard over low droning music.
—John Penner, Los Angeles Times, 8 Jan. 2026
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
Jayson Greene, Pitchfork, 3 Mar. 2026
Whereas the film is madcap and edgy—even bratty—the Wuthering Heights album is sullen and stately, built upon strings and droning electronics.
—Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 24 Feb. 2026
As far as Garland’s projects go, Devs comes closest to matching the paranoia and droning anxiety of the multi-hyphenate’s literary work.
—Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 31 Jan. 2026
The standout craft element here is a powerful horror score by Hildur Gudnadottir that ranges from solemn, quasi-ecclesiastical passages to gut-churning, droning soundscapes.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 13 Jan. 2026
The harsh grinding of the elevated cable system is heard over low droning music.
—John Penner, Los Angeles Times, 8 Jan. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for droning
Verb
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When the economy is humming, that isn’t such a big deal.—
Rogé Karma,
The Atlantic,
13 Mar. 2026
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But Vanek also has people round their back into turtle pose, using humming breaths to connect with vibration-sensing creatures, and using the outstretched arms of some poses to greet new snake visitors.—
Deena Prichep,
NPR,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Nearly 40 million barrels of oil from Iran, Russia and Venezuela are on vessels idling near the country, up by more than 17% from the week before the conflict erupted, according to Kpler.—
Bloomberg,
Bloomberg,
9 Mar. 2026
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Wright said the Russian oil being sold to India had been expected to go to Chinese refineries but had been idling at sea.—
Boston Herald Wire Services,
Boston Herald,
8 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The main street that intercepts the end of my block is tree-lined and buzzing, with generous sidewalks, gleaming (and respected) crosswalks, and wide windowscapes just begging to be strolled and observed.—
Claire Salinda,
Los Angeles Times,
13 Mar. 2026
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Check out Amazon’s genius fruit fly solutions What’s that annoying, tiny bug buzzing around?—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
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In fact, he’s been chilling with the Red Dancer emoji.—
Andy Hoglund,
Entertainment Weekly,
15 Mar. 2026
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Senior Homes Editor Betsy Watson's grandmother always had a batch of this cool and refreshing salad chilling in the fridge for guests.—
Jenna Sims,
Southern Living,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Versatile, breezy dresses are the ultimate suitcase staple, taking you from sandy strolls and poolside lounging to ocean view dinners without missing a beat.—
Julia Morlino,
Travel + Leisure,
12 Mar. 2026
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The longstanding vacation spot basks in 343 sunny days a year, perfect for lounging on white-quartz sands or marveling at nature both above and below the water.—
Symiah Dorsey,
Southern Living,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Fellow City Section member Sylmar (24-12) is playing San Marin (21-13) for the Division V title at noon.—
Eric Sondheimer,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Mar. 2026
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Prior to the start of the current conflict, the IRGC was one of the most powerful organizations in the country, playing a dominant role in both internal domestic security and regional power projection.—
Mike Brest,
The Washington Examiner,
11 Mar. 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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The pair had been loafing for some time among a grove of apple trees on a private residence in Payson.—
Shi En Kim,
AZCentral.com,
20 Feb. 2026
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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
Cite this Entry
“Droning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/droning. Accessed 16 Mar. 2026.
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