BALLS Synonyms: 80 Similar and Opposite Words

balls 1 of 3

noun (1)

plural of ball

as in spheres

a more or less round body or mass the little rubber ball used in racquetball a ball of string

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in bullets

a usually round or cone-shaped little piece of lead made to be fired from a firearm found a cache of musket balls while excavating the old fort

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

blanks

balls

2 of 3

noun (2)

plural of ball

as in dances

a social gathering for dancing a ball to celebrate the inauguration

Synonyms & Similar Words

balls

3 of 3

verb

present tense third-person singular of ball

as in rounds

to form into a round compact mass balled up the paper and threw it at the garbage can

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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 balls

Noun

The ticket matched four of the white balls and the gold Mega Ball in the drawing on Friday, July 24, to score $10,000, according to the Idaho Lottery. — Hali Smith, Idaho Statesman, 30 July 2026 As an attacking midfielder and point guard of the attack, Bethune consistently serves excellent balls to her teammates, especially Chawinga. — Pj Green july 30, Kansas City Star, 30 July 2026 The balls are coated in panko breadcrumbs, then fried until the golden shell just holds together, and collapses with the first bite. — Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 30 July 2026 Owner Audrey Dixon, niece of original owner Jana Howell, is selling the original recipes of the popular sugar cookies, cupcakes, cake balls, cheesecakes and cookie cakes. — Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 July 2026 After practicing with a racket with no strings to keep his groundstroke rhythm without jeopardizing the joint, Alcaraz is hitting balls again. — Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 30 July 2026 The resulting, room-sized artwork engulfed visitors in a swirling fantasia featuring bouncing balls, morphing nets and slow-motion action shots of Messi. — Chloe Veltman, NPR, 29 July 2026 Two tickets sold in New York and Illinois matched all five white balls, winning the game’s second-tier prize. — Escher Walcott, PEOPLE, 29 July 2026 But the maison will also have a trio of exclusive treatments on offer at Hotel Cipriani, which were crafted to honor Christian Dior’s love of masquerade balls and Venice. — Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 27 July 2026

Verb

Bassey signs, Ike balls out An hour after the Warriors officially signed reserve center Charles Bassey to a one-year deal, Graham Ike did his best to show that the backup center position should still be considered in flux. — Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 10 July 2026 The second and third outs were called third strikes, both of them initially balls before All-Star catcher Realmuto challenged through the Automated Ball-Strike System (ABS), or so called robot umpires, that will be used in the regular season for the first time this year. — CBS News, 6 Mar. 2026 Arrange dough balls 2 inches apart on prepared cookie sheets. — Holly Riordan, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 Mar. 2026 Each team received their shipment of logo balls several weeks ago from the Wilson factory so that equipment managers would be able to properly prepare the footballs for their respective offenses. — Kristi Scales jan. 5, Dallas Morning News, 5 Jan. 2026 Place balls 3 inches apart on 3 large baking sheets lined with parchment paper (about 12 cookies per sheet). — Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 27 Nov. 2025 Defense overall just balls Two. — Miami Herald, 26 Oct. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for balls

Noun

While many people see technology and nature as two separate spheres, FNN is proving how the two can work in tandem, mitigating natural disasters through the use of AI.

— Elizabeth MacBride, Forbes.com, 23 July 2026
Large, stone spheres by Polish artist Alicja Kwade fill the rectangular courtyard.

— The New York Times News Service Syndicate, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 July 2026

Definition of spheres

Noun

Johntaya Alexander, 21; Yamile Martinez, 21; and Melinda Davis, 57, died within seconds after the shooting started, caught in a barrage of bullets at 10th and K streets.

— Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 24 July 2026
Others cited safety concerns for the rapidly growing community as free shooting on BLM land within city limits, leading to at least one instance of stray bullets hitting homes being built in the foothills above Eagle.

— Noah Daly July 24, Idaho Statesman, 24 July 2026

Definition of bullets

Noun

Instead, the prolific, up-and-coming filmmaker luxuriates in dances under the moonlight, fiery rituals and glimpses of memory, conceived with an ethereal quality in collaboration with cinematographer Eily Sprungman.

— Carlos Aguilar, Variety, 20 July 2026
The parades — accompanied by dances, music and song — draw large crowds and tourists every year.

— ABC News, ABC News, 19 July 2026

Definition of dances

Noun

In another Amsterdam photo, a pair of identical world globes, recalling Ghirri’s passion for cartography and atlases, rest on matching supports to conjure that oldest of surrealist tropes, a pair of staring eyes.

— James Quandt, Artforum, 2 June 2026
Besides dusting, this includes wiping off the lightbulbs, removing any light globes to wash and dry them, and wiping dust from the fan’s motor and pull chain with a microfiber cloth.

— Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 14 May 2026

Definition of globes

Noun

Much of the ground there has turned black with ash and many cars have been reduced to empty shells of twisted metal.

— Issy Ronald, CNN Money, 26 July 2026
When mixtures of rare earth elements were introduced into the layered manganese oxide, the heavier elements—with their smaller hydration shells—fit more comfortably inside the narrow channels and bound tightly to the material.

— Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 25 July 2026

Definition of shells

Noun

Dunkin’ Prom, which funds alternative proms for teens who may have missed theirs for medical reasons and lastly, grants to customize hospital spaces to create joy.

— Zuri Primos June 29, Kansas City Star, 29 June 2026
Their stores specialize in dresses for proms, weddings, special occasions and quinceañeras.

— Ruben Vives, Los Angeles Times, 7 June 2026

Definition of proms

Verb

The raindrops patter on Mike McCarthy’s windshield as his SUV rolls through Calvary Catholic Cemetery.

— Mike DeFabo, New York Times, 27 July 2026
Shultz also leads a community science effort to study how bird behavior may change when wildfire rolls through a region.

— Mack Baysinger Follow, Los Angeles Times, 22 July 2026