1
as in routines
an established and often automatic or monotonous series of actions followed when engaging in some activity
shuttling the kids between extracurricular activities is all part of the suburban drill
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
1
as in punches
to make a hole or series of holes in
the nerve-jangling sound when a dentist drills a tooth
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in shoots
to strike with a missile from a gun
drilled the target from 100 yards away
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of drills
Mark Murphy,
Forbes.com,
30 June 2026
The clinics include water knowledge and hazards, dry land drills and games, water skills and drills, prone paddling on rescue boards, water rescue drills and relays.
—
Post-Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
29 June 2026
Roldan was on the field doing drills for the second straight day.
—
ABC News,
29 June 2026
Other messages described starvation, brutal military drills, constant drone attacks and recruits being punished for not understanding Russian commands.
—
Max Saltman,
CNN Money,
28 June 2026
Before leaving Barcelona, he had been warned not to partake in certain drills at full effort yet.
—
Jacob Whitehead,
New York Times,
28 June 2026
Ignoring Safety Briefings Safety drills are of critical importance on cruises, so don’t miss the muster drill on embarkation day.
—
Jill Schildhouse,
Southern Living,
27 June 2026
Not organized practice, not drills, just playing with their friends.
—
Nicole Williams,
AJC.com,
22 June 2026
Shooting drills, Washington called them.
—
Luca Evans,
Denver Post,
21 June 2026
Michael Silver,
New York Times,
16 June 2026
The two countries conducted joint nuclear forces drills earlier this month.
—
Yuliya Talmazan,
NBC news,
30 May 2026
Minnesota has a desire to get Edwards off the ball more next season to create more of the easy catch-and-shoot looks the superstar routinely drills.
—
Jace Frederick,
Twin Cities,
26 May 2026
Remer drills his students on roots, language patterns and the exceptions to those patterns.
—
Ben Nuckols,
Fortune,
23 May 2026
By competition, Tolbert is referring to all the on-field, and off-field drills the Dolphins have been doing this offseason, which get so competitive players routinely request to see the film because a daily winner is declared, and the leader is tracked.
—
Omar Kelly,
Miami Herald,
12 May 2026
If the samples test positive, then the company drills to validate the discovery, secures rights to the site, and sells the rights off to a mining company.
—
New Atlas,
8 May 2026
The nonprofit drills wells to provide clean water.
—
Michael Abeyta,
CBS News,
6 May 2026
For kids, there will be a mobile video game truck, skills and drills stations, inflatables, balloon and caricature artist and a face painter.
—
Kirk Kenney,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
1 May 2026
Noun
Generation Z came up with active-shooter drills, a pandemic that shut down their schools, climate dread, nonstop digital comparison, shaky job markets, and a front-row view of older workers burning out.
—
Mark Murphy,
Forbes.com,
30 June 2026
The clinics include water knowledge and hazards, dry land drills and games, water skills and drills, prone paddling on rescue boards, water rescue drills and relays.
—
Post-Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
29 June 2026
Roldan was on the field doing drills for the second straight day.
—
ABC News,
29 June 2026
Other messages described starvation, brutal military drills, constant drone attacks and recruits being punished for not understanding Russian commands.
—
Max Saltman,
CNN Money,
28 June 2026
Before leaving Barcelona, he had been warned not to partake in certain drills at full effort yet.
—
Jacob Whitehead,
New York Times,
28 June 2026
Ignoring Safety Briefings Safety drills are of critical importance on cruises, so don’t miss the muster drill on embarkation day.
—
Jill Schildhouse,
Southern Living,
27 June 2026
Not organized practice, not drills, just playing with their friends.
—
Nicole Williams,
AJC.com,
22 June 2026
Shooting drills, Washington called them.
—
Luca Evans,
Denver Post,
21 June 2026
Verb
He is hyperfocused on details and drills home teaching points relentlessly.
—
Michael Silver,
New York Times,
16 June 2026
The two countries conducted joint nuclear forces drills earlier this month.
—
Yuliya Talmazan,
NBC news,
30 May 2026
Minnesota has a desire to get Edwards off the ball more next season to create more of the easy catch-and-shoot looks the superstar routinely drills.
—
Jace Frederick,
Twin Cities,
26 May 2026
Remer drills his students on roots, language patterns and the exceptions to those patterns.
—
Ben Nuckols,
Fortune,
23 May 2026
By competition, Tolbert is referring to all the on-field, and off-field drills the Dolphins have been doing this offseason, which get so competitive players routinely request to see the film because a daily winner is declared, and the leader is tracked.
—
Omar Kelly,
Miami Herald,
12 May 2026
If the samples test positive, then the company drills to validate the discovery, secures rights to the site, and sells the rights off to a mining company.
—
New Atlas,
8 May 2026
The nonprofit drills wells to provide clean water.
—
Michael Abeyta,
CBS News,
6 May 2026
For kids, there will be a mobile video game truck, skills and drills stations, inflatables, balloon and caricature artist and a face painter.
—
Kirk Kenney,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
1 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for drills
Noun
-
Jupiter enters your 6th House of Work and Health, encouraging kinder routines that improve well-being and lighten daily tasks.
-
Hong Kong/Hangzhou/Beijing — When humanoid robots dominated the stage of last year’s Spring Festival Gala with sleek dance routines, Ai Lin saw more than a spectacle.
Noun
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There are brisk 7am forest walks, group yoga, breath work, and a class on Lanserhof healing exercises, which combine stretching, tapping, and movement.
-
The carrier arrived in Hawaii on June 23, in advance of RIMPAC maritime exercises.
Verb
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Canada goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau punches the ball clear as Bosnia's Tarik Muharemovic attempts to head the ball during a World Cup ground-stage match in Toronto on June 12, 2026.
-
Humble and simple, this Tomato-Basil Chicken punches way above its weight.
Verb
-
The second, MiDAR, is an active multispectral sensing system that shoots multiple wavelengths of light through the water column to illuminate the otherwise dark ocean depths.
-
Travis Kelce shoots his shot Swift and Kelce’s romance can be traced back to summer 2023, when the Kansas City Chiefs tight end attended an Eras tour concert at Arrowhead Stadium, the Chiefs’ house.
Verb
-
The story follows one family who plants bulbs, seeds and seedlings to create a rainbow of blooming flowers.
-
Space plants 12 inches apart and water at the base to prevent powdery mildew.
Noun
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Tableside dishes are a highlight, including a seasonal classic Greek salad and mouthwatering whole branzino baked in a coffee-grinds and sea-salt crust, then expertly deboned and served to perfection.
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In a measuring cup or small bowl, stir together the yogurt, mayonnaise, chives, dill and garlic powder; season with 1 1/2 teaspoons salt and a few grinds of pepper.
Noun
-
Good Chop is dedicated to providing the finest cuts of meat while promoting sustainable practices.
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But even after just a few summer league practices and one summer league game, Conwell has already noticed the difference at the NBA level.
Verb
-
Upgrade a Laundry Room Vent holes in a laundry room might call to mind a traditional airing cupboard, but perhaps counterintuitively, that term actually refers to a heated cupboard for keeping towels dry rather than one in which air freely circulates.
-
Caulk holes around plumbing and sewer lines where roaches are likely to enter.
Cite this Entry
“Drills.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/drills. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
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