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
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Recent Examples of piling
Matthias Gafni, San Francisco Chronicle, 4 Apr. 2026
People were already highly concerned about affordability and the cost of living, and this would just be piling onto it.
—Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 3 Apr. 2026
Earlier this month, several outlets covered how garments destined for brands were piling up at airports in Bangladesh and India after Gulf carriers cancelled flights, with more than half of Bangladesh’s air cargo typically moving through Gulf hubs.
—Assef Shaikh, Footwear News, 2 Apr. 2026
Clippings have a bad reputation for piling up between the soil surface and the actively growing grass plants to create a layer of thatch.
—Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 Apr. 2026
Much of the in-game day, which lasts at most 15 minutes, is spent pinging between attending to the growing line of customers, sorting the video returns piling up on the counter, and answering the busy office phone.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 31 Mar. 2026
The purpose of our mountain drive this morning is to rendezvous with Fitz and the rest of the Caldwell clan and take advantage of the virgin powder now piling up around California’s Carson Pass.
—Namir Khaliq, Big Think, 31 Mar. 2026
With losses piling up, something needed to change.
—Kalen Lumpkins, Chicago Tribune, 31 Mar. 2026
Minnesota has been one of the healthiest teams in the league this season, but injuries have been piling up over the past few weeks.
—Jon Krawczynski, New York Times, 30 Mar. 2026
Verb
The gusts redistributed snow on the avalanche slope, piling it into drifts far deeper than surrounding sites.
—Matthias Gafni, San Francisco Chronicle, 4 Apr. 2026
People were already highly concerned about affordability and the cost of living, and this would just be piling onto it.
—Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 3 Apr. 2026
Earlier this month, several outlets covered how garments destined for brands were piling up at airports in Bangladesh and India after Gulf carriers cancelled flights, with more than half of Bangladesh’s air cargo typically moving through Gulf hubs.
—Assef Shaikh, Footwear News, 2 Apr. 2026
Clippings have a bad reputation for piling up between the soil surface and the actively growing grass plants to create a layer of thatch.
—Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 Apr. 2026
Much of the in-game day, which lasts at most 15 minutes, is spent pinging between attending to the growing line of customers, sorting the video returns piling up on the counter, and answering the busy office phone.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 31 Mar. 2026
The purpose of our mountain drive this morning is to rendezvous with Fitz and the rest of the Caldwell clan and take advantage of the virgin powder now piling up around California’s Carson Pass.
—Namir Khaliq, Big Think, 31 Mar. 2026
With losses piling up, something needed to change.
—Kalen Lumpkins, Chicago Tribune, 31 Mar. 2026
Minnesota has been one of the healthiest teams in the league this season, but injuries have been piling up over the past few weeks.
—Jon Krawczynski, New York Times, 30 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for piling
Noun
-
The piles of dishes in the sink.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Apr. 2026
-
Spring is a time for renewal, and that includes refreshing your ‘to be read’ pile.—
Theara Coleman,
TheWeek,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
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How Mecklenburg salaries stack up nationally Pay comparisons vary more when stacking Mecklenburg County up against similarly sized counties across the country.—
Mary Ramsey,
Charlotte Observer,
31 Mar. 2026
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The titans of gaming are combining the block-stacking puzzle gameplay of Tetris with the alien invasion action of Space Invaders for an entirely new take on the storied franchises.—
Devin Robertson,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
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As for crowding, Wind Cave sees its peak in summer, with around 100,000 visitors per month.—
Stephanie Vermillion,
Travel + Leisure,
11 Apr. 2026
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Use clean, sharp pruning tools to remove any branches growing vertically to reduce crowding and allow better airflow between the branches, which can help prevent fungal diseases.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Now, viral video footage of a group of dogs stranded on the side of a busy roadway in China has drawn plenty of comparisons to the story, showing a reminiscent group of household critters huddling together.—
Victor Tangermann,
Futurism,
26 Mar. 2026
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The final days of our ordeal blurred into a nightmare of torment, wandering while daylight lasted and huddling under open shelters at night, shaking with cold.—
Elwyn "Bud" Myers,
Outdoor Life,
11 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Piling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/piling. Accessed 12 Apr. 2026.
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