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
Wayne Chang, CNN Money, 3 June 2026
There’s so much that has been occluded by the broad-brush depiction of the eighties as the awful age of Reagan, yuppies, shoulder pads, mullets, and synth-drums.
—Literary Hub, 1 June 2026
To create Ranjha, Ben Tzur worked with the same team as 2015’s Junun, with the addition of the Smile’s Tom Skinner on drums.
—Arman Khan, Pitchfork, 1 June 2026
Starr was featured on drums or vocals (and sometimes both simultaneously) on all but one selection in the 103-minute concert.
—George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 May 2026
In addition to his solo set in the States, Collins also played drums for both Eric Clapton and the reunion of Led Zeppelin's Robert Plant, Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones.
—Meredith Wilshere, PEOPLE, 30 May 2026
This year, graduate workers who are on strike picketed in Harvard Yard, blaring vuvuzela horns, drums and cowbells whenever an administrator spoke.
—Michael Casey, Fortune, 29 May 2026
The 1970 opening ceremony of the games showed the various teams marching into the soccer stadium to the sound of drums.
—Time Staff, Time, 29 May 2026
The bigger question was whether the La Familia fans, who staged a silent protest last week, would be back with their drums, horns, banners and chants.
—Miami Herald, 25 May 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
Launched in Taiwan last month to the sound of drums and a traditional lion dance, the 21,000-ton civilian vessel connects the northern Taiwan port of Keelung with the island of Ishigaki, in southwestern Japan’s idyllic Okinawa prefecture.
—Wayne Chang, CNN Money, 3 June 2026
There’s so much that has been occluded by the broad-brush depiction of the eighties as the awful age of Reagan, yuppies, shoulder pads, mullets, and synth-drums.
—Literary Hub, 1 June 2026
To create Ranjha, Ben Tzur worked with the same team as 2015’s Junun, with the addition of the Smile’s Tom Skinner on drums.
—Arman Khan, Pitchfork, 1 June 2026
Starr was featured on drums or vocals (and sometimes both simultaneously) on all but one selection in the 103-minute concert.
—George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 May 2026
In addition to his solo set in the States, Collins also played drums for both Eric Clapton and the reunion of Led Zeppelin's Robert Plant, Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones.
—Meredith Wilshere, PEOPLE, 30 May 2026
This year, graduate workers who are on strike picketed in Harvard Yard, blaring vuvuzela horns, drums and cowbells whenever an administrator spoke.
—Michael Casey, Fortune, 29 May 2026
The 1970 opening ceremony of the games showed the various teams marching into the soccer stadium to the sound of drums.
—Time Staff, Time, 29 May 2026
The bigger question was whether the La Familia fans, who staged a silent protest last week, would be back with their drums, horns, banners and chants.
—Miami Herald, 25 May 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
-
The partnership resulted in the implementation of energy efficiency measures across the HVAC and lighting systems that are projected to reduce carbon emissions by an amount equivalent to avoiding the import of approximately 7,200 barrels of oil.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
4 June 2026
-
The bear was almost on top of us when, with a deafening roar, the shot from both barrels smacked into that enormous shaggy head.—
Anton Money,
Outdoor Life,
4 June 2026
Verb
-
The Intern, described as a sexy, twisty legal thriller about power, corruption and the true nature of justice, taps into Campbell’s background of Harvard University and Stanford Law School graduate.—
Nellie Andreeva,
Deadline,
3 June 2026
-
Soldiers may soon be doing a bit less pack hauling as the US Department of Defense taps American Rheinmetall and Harbinger to develop a new generation of stealthy, inexpensive, and expendable robotic trucks designed to carry cargo to the battlefield.—
David Szondy
June 03,
New Atlas,
3 June 2026
Noun
-
Muffin tins also make a fun snack or meal tray for kids, one that encourages them to try new foods.—
The Washington Post,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
27 May 2026
-
The packs can be bought in a variety of formats (singles, multipacks, hangers, tins, retail boxes, and a big collector’s box).—
Andrew Mackie,
New York Times,
19 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Drums.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/drums. Accessed 9 Jun. 2026.
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