1
as in stacks
a quantity of things thrown or stacked on one another
a large pile of newspapers that needed to be disposed of
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in loads
a considerable amount
a job that paid piles of money
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in heaps
to lay or throw on top of one another
piled all the clothes on the chair before putting them away
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in huddles
to gather into a closely packed group
the kids piled into the car
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of piles
Jacqueline Tempera, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 Jan. 2026
Instead of dumping piles alongside traffic areas, distribute it evenly or spread it over garden beds where it can be more easily absorbed.
—Barbara Gillette, The Spruce, 13 Jan. 2026
Snslxh Stackable Closet Storage Baskets, Set of 5 For bulky knits and sweaters, Lam suggests using stackable shelves like these to keep piles neat and accessible.
—Jeaneen Russell, PEOPLE, 11 Jan. 2026
While the administration argues that aggressive trade policies will offset these costs, budget analysts suggest the math does not add up—or piles even more onto the large and growing $38 trillion national debt.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 8 Jan. 2026
One year after a firestorm ripped through Sue Decker’s neighborhood in the foothills of Altadena, California, her street is still a barren vista of empty lots and piles of dirt where tidy bungalows once stood.
—Kyung Lah, CNN Money, 8 Jan. 2026
Over millions of years, enough material piles up above to raise the temperature and pressure to the point that sediments turn into rock and organic material becomes oil and gas.
—Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 7 Jan. 2026
The situation has worsened with the government’s inability to clear piles of trash that accumulate on streets and to carry out fumigation campaigns.
—Orlando Matos, NBC news, 6 Jan. 2026
Shelf ice forms along beaches where ice piles up after being pushed to shore.
—Sarah Moore, Freep.com, 5 Jan. 2026
Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 4 Jan. 2026
Then Carol piles everything on her plate into a rough slice of avocado toast, mashing them together in an improvised layer.
—Scott Tobias, Vulture, 5 Dec. 2025
This recipe piles them on, casting apples — which are starting to appear at farmers markets — and nuts front and center as main characters supported by a chorus of greens.
—The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Sep. 2025
That’s where the paperwork piles up, court fees skyrocket, and grieving families are forced into bureaucratic limbo for months — sometimes years.
—Wyles Daniel, USA Today, 15 Aug. 2025
Noun
Ebern Designs Slim Laundry Hamper With Lid This sleek hamper looks far better than a traditional plastic basket, and the lid keeps piles of clothes out of sight when guests are over.
—Jacqueline Tempera, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 Jan. 2026
Instead of dumping piles alongside traffic areas, distribute it evenly or spread it over garden beds where it can be more easily absorbed.
—Barbara Gillette, The Spruce, 13 Jan. 2026
Snslxh Stackable Closet Storage Baskets, Set of 5 For bulky knits and sweaters, Lam suggests using stackable shelves like these to keep piles neat and accessible.
—Jeaneen Russell, PEOPLE, 11 Jan. 2026
While the administration argues that aggressive trade policies will offset these costs, budget analysts suggest the math does not add up—or piles even more onto the large and growing $38 trillion national debt.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 8 Jan. 2026
One year after a firestorm ripped through Sue Decker’s neighborhood in the foothills of Altadena, California, her street is still a barren vista of empty lots and piles of dirt where tidy bungalows once stood.
—Kyung Lah, CNN Money, 8 Jan. 2026
Over millions of years, enough material piles up above to raise the temperature and pressure to the point that sediments turn into rock and organic material becomes oil and gas.
—Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 7 Jan. 2026
The situation has worsened with the government’s inability to clear piles of trash that accumulate on streets and to carry out fumigation campaigns.
—Orlando Matos, NBC news, 6 Jan. 2026
Shelf ice forms along beaches where ice piles up after being pushed to shore.
—Sarah Moore, Freep.com, 5 Jan. 2026
Verb
Blackwood’s absence piles it on with several layers of awful.
—Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 4 Jan. 2026
Then Carol piles everything on her plate into a rough slice of avocado toast, mashing them together in an improvised layer.
—Scott Tobias, Vulture, 5 Dec. 2025
This recipe piles them on, casting apples — which are starting to appear at farmers markets — and nuts front and center as main characters supported by a chorus of greens.
—The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Sep. 2025
That’s where the paperwork piles up, court fees skyrocket, and grieving families are forced into bureaucratic limbo for months — sometimes years.
—Wyles Daniel, USA Today, 15 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for piles
Verb
-
At the end of lunch, the entire crew scoops their leftover food into a compost bin, and then neatly stacks their containers on top of each others.—
Aaron Couch,
HollywoodReporter,
8 Jan. 2026
-
Instead of playing Tetris with all the food storage containers in your fridge and freezer, invest in a set that stacks nicely.—
Bridget Reed Morawski,
Architectural Digest,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
While the team occasionally huddles, Rivers usually calls plays from the sideline.—
Sam Jane,
New York Times,
21 Dec. 2025
-
In the series finale's last moments, the whole family huddles together at Claire and Phil's house to take one more group selfie.—
Allison DeGrushe,
Entertainment Weekly,
29 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Filming in front of real audiences, alongside real racers and real pit crews, the director crowds the screen with people.—
Savannah Salazar,
Vulture,
13 Dec. 2025
-
Long takes emphasize the mental labor of Hujar’s self-exploration, and Sachs’s framing (with cinematography by Alex Ashe) crowds the pair together to evoke the intimacy of their talk.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Fatemian simply bunches each slice slightly, creating a ruffled, flower-like radish slice that is then inserted between the rest of the vegetables.—
Sophia Beams,
Better Homes & Gardens,
6 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Piles.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/piles. Accessed 20 Jan. 2026.
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