1
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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in dances
a social gathering for dancing
a ball to celebrate the inauguration
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of balls
Jordana Comiter, PEOPLE, 30 Jan. 2026
The Texas Department of Public Safety said in a statement that officers arrested two people and used pepper balls after protesters did not heed orders to disperse, adding that demonstrators also breached a protest area and spit on officers.
—Arkansas Online, 30 Jan. 2026
After coach specifically said hold balls for a second time.
—Brett Owens, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Agents sprayed pepper balls and tear gas toward a nearby crowd of agitators as the altercation continued, though the man was ultimately released.
—Greg Wehner , Matt Finn, FOXNews.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Agents responded by shoving protesters who got too close, firing pepper balls and finally throwing tear gas grenades and driving away.
—Tim Sullivan, Fortune, 29 Jan. 2026
As a result, tennis balls were stuck on the ends of his horns to protect the innocent.
—Mark Price
january 29, Charlotte Observer, 29 Jan. 2026
Five of them will be white balls numbered 1 to 69.
—Fernando Cervantes Jr, USA Today, 29 Jan. 2026
Full-court press, players diving for balls and tight defensive coverage gave both teams trouble throughout the night and resulted in a low-scoring affair.
—Dan Rios, Daily News, 24 Jan. 2026
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
Arrange the dough balls 2 inches apart on the prepared cookie sheets.
—Elizabeth Fogarty, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Oct. 2025
Defense overall just balls Two.
—Miami Herald, 26 Oct. 2025
Noun
The music of the first three seasons — including covers of Miley Cyrus and Rihanna songs — helped set the backdrop of pivotal scenes, and of course, many, many balls.
—Jordana Comiter, PEOPLE, 30 Jan. 2026
The Texas Department of Public Safety said in a statement that officers arrested two people and used pepper balls after protesters did not heed orders to disperse, adding that demonstrators also breached a protest area and spit on officers.
—Arkansas Online, 30 Jan. 2026
After coach specifically said hold balls for a second time.
—Brett Owens, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Agents sprayed pepper balls and tear gas toward a nearby crowd of agitators as the altercation continued, though the man was ultimately released.
—Greg Wehner , Matt Finn, FOXNews.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Agents responded by shoving protesters who got too close, firing pepper balls and finally throwing tear gas grenades and driving away.
—Tim Sullivan, Fortune, 29 Jan. 2026
As a result, tennis balls were stuck on the ends of his horns to protect the innocent.
—Mark Price
january 29, Charlotte Observer, 29 Jan. 2026
Five of them will be white balls numbered 1 to 69.
—Fernando Cervantes Jr, USA Today, 29 Jan. 2026
Full-court press, players diving for balls and tight defensive coverage gave both teams trouble throughout the night and resulted in a low-scoring affair.
—Dan Rios, Daily News, 24 Jan. 2026
Verb
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
Arrange the dough balls 2 inches apart on the prepared cookie sheets.
—Elizabeth Fogarty, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Oct. 2025
Defense overall just balls Two.
—Miami Herald, 26 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for balls
Verb
-
Regardless of the occasion, everyone rounds out their meal with a couple bites of pillowy, yeasty, sweet, and slightly tangy goodness.—
Tara Massouleh McCay,
Southern Living,
31 Jan. 2026
-
Spanish actress Angela Molina (Live Flesh) rounds out the cast as a nurse at the clinic.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
From rugged descents through pine forests to flowy singletrack that rolls through meadows, there’s a trail for every ability.—
Jen Murphy,
Outside,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Add a spicy twist to homemade pizzas, breads, calzones, and rolls with this ready-to-bake dough that includes bits of jalapeño peppers.—
Michele Laufik,
Martha Stewart,
6 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Balls.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/balls. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.
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