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
Alan Bradley, Space.com, 2 Mar. 2026
These drums bleed into Micay’s version of the song, which riffs off the 1971 synth-arrangement rendition that Wendy Carlos wrote for Clockwork Orange.
—Kiana Mickles, Pitchfork, 2 Mar. 2026
Wood drums are often carved with Aztec symbols such as the sun or animals like owls, eagles and ocelots.
—John Metcalfe, Mercury News, 1 Mar. 2026
With roses snaked around the mic stands to match the roses on her cowboy hat, Kirke strummed acoustic guitar with minimal accompaniment — pedal steel guitar, bass and drums.
—Ed Masley, AZCentral.com, 27 Feb. 2026
The drums sound just so perfect on it.
—Joe Hagan, Vanity Fair, 27 Feb. 2026
About 25 demonstrators were seen positioned around the lot with flags, drums and bullhorns.
—Jack Dunn, Variety, 26 Feb. 2026
Protesters made noise using drums, whistles and megaphones, and even were banging pots and pans together.
—Sally Krutzig, Idaho Statesman, 24 Feb. 2026
Museum, which includes a podcast studio, sound booths, and music rooms, where more than 100 guitars and historic drums are archived.
—Lynnette Nicholas, Parents, 20 Feb. 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
During an eclipse, people would bang drums, shoot arrows, or create loud noises to scare the dragon away, as a red moon was seen as a sign of impending misfortune or celestial imbalance.
—Alan Bradley, Space.com, 2 Mar. 2026
These drums bleed into Micay’s version of the song, which riffs off the 1971 synth-arrangement rendition that Wendy Carlos wrote for Clockwork Orange.
—Kiana Mickles, Pitchfork, 2 Mar. 2026
Wood drums are often carved with Aztec symbols such as the sun or animals like owls, eagles and ocelots.
—John Metcalfe, Mercury News, 1 Mar. 2026
With roses snaked around the mic stands to match the roses on her cowboy hat, Kirke strummed acoustic guitar with minimal accompaniment — pedal steel guitar, bass and drums.
—Ed Masley, AZCentral.com, 27 Feb. 2026
The drums sound just so perfect on it.
—Joe Hagan, Vanity Fair, 27 Feb. 2026
About 25 demonstrators were seen positioned around the lot with flags, drums and bullhorns.
—Jack Dunn, Variety, 26 Feb. 2026
Protesters made noise using drums, whistles and megaphones, and even were banging pots and pans together.
—Sally Krutzig, Idaho Statesman, 24 Feb. 2026
Museum, which includes a podcast studio, sound booths, and music rooms, where more than 100 guitars and historic drums are archived.
—Lynnette Nicholas, Parents, 20 Feb. 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
-
After coalition forces began bombing Iraqi positions in January 1991, part of Iraqi troops’ response was to release millions of barrels of crude oil into the Persian Gulf.—
Michael Christopher Low,
The Conversation,
5 Mar. 2026
-
The war’s impact on inflation depends on its severity and duration as well as the magnitude of the disruption at the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow corridor through which one in five barrels of oil around the world flow.—
Bryan Mena,
CNN Money,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Plus, a feature called Concerts Near You aims to be a recommendation engine for local shows that taps into your musical tastes.—
James Peckham,
PC Magazine,
5 Mar. 2026
-
El Pollo Loco has a new section on its menu that taps into the high protein craze.—
Fielding Buck,
Oc Register,
4 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
For quick, single-serve portions, muffin tins or silicone cupcake molds work well.—
Alexandra Emanuelli,
Southern Living,
12 Feb. 2026
-
As my recycling bin fills with tins, my optimism rises, too.—
Hannah Coates,
Vogue,
10 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Drums.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/drums. Accessed 6 Mar. 2026.
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