as in taps
to strike or cause to strike lightly and usually rhythmically
absentmindedly drumming his fingers on the table
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of drums
Mark Knapp, PC Magazine, 30 Mar. 2026
The 14ers banged drums and danced like no one was watching.
—Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 29 Mar. 2026
The march continues to weave throughout the Plaza on its way back to Mill Creek Park as people shout various chants, blare music, pound on handheld drums and blow whistles.
—Jenna Ebbers, Kansas City Star, 28 Mar. 2026
In a noisy scene outside the Manhattan courthouse, contrasting groups of demonstrators chanted, blew horns and beat drums and cowbells.
—Arkansas Online, 27 Mar. 2026
In a noisy scene, protesters and supporters chanted, blew horns and beat drums and cowbells.
—Regina Garcia Cano, Chicago Tribune, 26 Mar. 2026
The drums might knock and rattle or sound like they were dunked in the subterranean oceans of Titan.
—Stephen Kearse, Pitchfork, 24 Mar. 2026
Throughout the show, fans will get to experience musical arrangements of the iconic songs from the show, which will be played by a five-piece band on the drums, guitar, trumpet, saxophone and trombone, park officials said.
—Dean Fioresi, CBS News, 22 Mar. 2026
Generate infinite stem variations — vocals, drums, synths that flow with your audio.
—George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Mar. 2026
Randy McMullen, Mercury News, 8 Jan. 2026
Instead of another room with a priest and young woman growling on the bed, the exorcisms in The Wailing are accompanied by chanting crowds, firepits, and drums beating as a great spectacle is made of the ritual.
—Michael Lee Simpson, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Oct. 2025
The video cuts to Camila, who reads the report outloud as Matthew drums on the bongo and offers his commentary on the report.
—Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 24 Oct. 2025
Some of the pressure on federal lawmakers is also shifting to state-level leaders to fill the gaps as the shutdown drums on.
—Claire Heddles, Miami Herald, 24 Oct. 2025
These cues told the robot which drums to strike and when.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 8 Aug. 2025
Noun
The drums hit firmly, and the vocals are clear, though the lack of stereo still makes for a congested soundstage that can affect clarity.
—Mark Knapp, PC Magazine, 30 Mar. 2026
The 14ers banged drums and danced like no one was watching.
—Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 29 Mar. 2026
The march continues to weave throughout the Plaza on its way back to Mill Creek Park as people shout various chants, blare music, pound on handheld drums and blow whistles.
—Jenna Ebbers, Kansas City Star, 28 Mar. 2026
In a noisy scene outside the Manhattan courthouse, contrasting groups of demonstrators chanted, blew horns and beat drums and cowbells.
—Arkansas Online, 27 Mar. 2026
In a noisy scene, protesters and supporters chanted, blew horns and beat drums and cowbells.
—Regina Garcia Cano, Chicago Tribune, 26 Mar. 2026
The drums might knock and rattle or sound like they were dunked in the subterranean oceans of Titan.
—Stephen Kearse, Pitchfork, 24 Mar. 2026
Throughout the show, fans will get to experience musical arrangements of the iconic songs from the show, which will be played by a five-piece band on the drums, guitar, trumpet, saxophone and trombone, park officials said.
—Dean Fioresi, CBS News, 22 Mar. 2026
Generate infinite stem variations — vocals, drums, synths that flow with your audio.
—George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Mar. 2026
Verb
Krieger and Densmore, the two surviving members of The Doors, are the backbone of the video, revisiting the signature guitar and drums parts more than a half-century after they were originally laid to wax.
—Randy McMullen, Mercury News, 8 Jan. 2026
Instead of another room with a priest and young woman growling on the bed, the exorcisms in The Wailing are accompanied by chanting crowds, firepits, and drums beating as a great spectacle is made of the ritual.
—Michael Lee Simpson, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Oct. 2025
The video cuts to Camila, who reads the report outloud as Matthew drums on the bongo and offers his commentary on the report.
—Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 24 Oct. 2025
Some of the pressure on federal lawmakers is also shifting to state-level leaders to fill the gaps as the shutdown drums on.
—Claire Heddles, Miami Herald, 24 Oct. 2025
These cues told the robot which drums to strike and when.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 8 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for drums
Noun
-
Nearly 1 billion barrels will be lost by the end of the month, comprising up to 600 million barrels of crude oil and roughly 350 million barrels of refined products like jet fuel, diesel and gasoline, McKay said.—
Spencer Kimball,Pippa Stevens,
CNBC,
2 Apr. 2026
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Bank of America estimates that in March alone, the world economy lost about 14 million to 15 million barrels per day of crude oil and energy products like diesel and jet fuel.—
Matt Egan,
CNN Money,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The event taps into a broader effort by the entire Cannes ecosystem to converse with the creator industry, with TikTok having come on board as a festival sponsor back in 2022 — the first digital-media app to do so.—
Rafa Sales Ross,
Variety,
2 Apr. 2026
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How to appeal strike zone decisions in ABS To request a review, a player taps his hat or helmet.—
Neil Nakahodo,
Kansas City Star,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Launched by Wrigley in the early 2000s in those iconic metal tins, they were discontinued around 2010 due to declining sales.—
Hanna Wickes,
Miami Herald,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Altoids Sours, those cult-favorite candies packaged in metal tins, were launched by Wrigley in the early 2000s and discontinued around 2010 due to declining sales.—
Hanna Wickes,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
30 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Drums.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/drums. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.
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