1
as in stacking
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 crowding
to gather into a closely packed group
the kids piled into the car
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of piling
Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 16 Feb. 2026
Moise, 71, was born in Port-au-Prince, came to the United States at 17 and began piling up degrees — medical from the Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine, an MBA and a law degree at the University of Miami.
—David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 16 Feb. 2026
Focus on one statement pillow; a lumbar or bolster adds instant polish without pillows piling up.
—Sarah Lyon, The Spruce, 15 Feb. 2026
The country is the most indebted nation in the world, with a debt-to-GDP ratio of almost 230% in 2025, data from the International Monetary Fund showed, and increased fiscal spending risks piling more debt.
—Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 11 Feb. 2026
With defeats, injuries and suspensions piling up, Tottenham’s domestic campaign is spinning out of control.
—Jay Harris, New York Times, 8 Feb. 2026
Montana before the injuries started piling up, and Dan Marino before defensive coordinators could adjust.
—Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Feb. 2026
From dirty dining rooms to unwelcome pests, a viral ranking highlights where restaurant cleanliness complaints are piling up, and which states patrons say have the biggest problems.
—Deirdre Bardolf, FOXNews.com, 7 Feb. 2026
With turnovers piling up and looks failing to fall, the separation felt inevitable.
—C.j. Holmes, New York Daily News, 6 Feb. 2026
Verb
At one point, Roen said, officials even tried piling frozen beavers outside the wolves’ den to sate their hunger.
—Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 16 Feb. 2026
Moise, 71, was born in Port-au-Prince, came to the United States at 17 and began piling up degrees — medical from the Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine, an MBA and a law degree at the University of Miami.
—David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 16 Feb. 2026
Focus on one statement pillow; a lumbar or bolster adds instant polish without pillows piling up.
—Sarah Lyon, The Spruce, 15 Feb. 2026
The country is the most indebted nation in the world, with a debt-to-GDP ratio of almost 230% in 2025, data from the International Monetary Fund showed, and increased fiscal spending risks piling more debt.
—Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 11 Feb. 2026
With defeats, injuries and suspensions piling up, Tottenham’s domestic campaign is spinning out of control.
—Jay Harris, New York Times, 8 Feb. 2026
Montana before the injuries started piling up, and Dan Marino before defensive coordinators could adjust.
—Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Feb. 2026
From dirty dining rooms to unwelcome pests, a viral ranking highlights where restaurant cleanliness complaints are piling up, and which states patrons say have the biggest problems.
—Deirdre Bardolf, FOXNews.com, 7 Feb. 2026
With turnovers piling up and looks failing to fall, the separation felt inevitable.
—C.j. Holmes, New York Daily News, 6 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for piling
Noun
-
What piles up now melts gradually through spring and summer, feeding rivers, farms, and household taps long after the clouds clear.—
James Ward,
USA Today,
18 Feb. 2026
-
In sheer dollar terms, the pile of money owed by the government is projected under the CBO’s baseline scenario to balloon from nearly $31 trillion today to a staggering $56 trillion over the next decade.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Just keep stacking days — and be a competitor.—
Edgar Thompson,
The Orlando Sentinel,
8 Feb. 2026
-
From fudgy squares that melt in your mouth to cake-like slices perfect for stacking on a platter, and even cookie-style mash-ups, these brownie recipes cover the spectrum.—
Maggie Meyer Glisan,
Better Homes & Gardens,
7 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Boston community leaders proposed a new plan to tackle the open-air drug market at and around Mass and Cass that focuses on getting addicts off the streets, out of jail and into recovery in order to avoid last summer’s crowding and chaos.—
Gayla Cawley,
Boston Herald,
19 Feb. 2026
-
Since no one wants clutter crowding their new space, paring down belongings often comes with the territory.—
Jamie Cuccinelli,
Martha Stewart,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The two are seen huddling under a tree in the rain, laughing companionably.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
26 Jan. 2026
-
The cost of heating a home over winter is now more than some elderly couples’ pensions, Pekingnology reported, and villagers are huddling under blankets, or secretly burning firewood.—
Tom Chivers,
semafor.com,
15 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Piling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/piling. Accessed 23 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
