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
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Recent Examples of drills
Grant Afseth, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Sep. 2025
The drills come less than a week after around two dozen Russian long-range drones crossed into Poland, which shares a 260-mile border with Belarus and a 130-mile border with Kaliningrad.
—Patrick Reevell, ABC News, 15 Sep. 2025
Dogfighting drills push both the airframe and the pilot to their physical limits, with G-forces that test human endurance.
—Tony Bradley, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
Afterward, Mitchell became the editor of Nuclear Times, the disarmament magazine, despite having no nuclear background other than some extravagant atomic-bomb drills in junior high in the fifties.
—Zach Helfand, New Yorker, 15 Sep. 2025
Now there is fresh unease on NATO’s eastern flank, as Russia and Belarus kick off major military drills to test the readiness of their armed forces.
—Nathan Hodge, CNN Money, 12 Sep. 2025
For a generation that grew up with active school shooter drills and to-the-minute news alerts about mass shootings, desensitization to violence is likely more pronounced.
—Rachel Hale, USA Today, 12 Sep. 2025
Commanders emphasized that the drills are not just about riot shields and tactical maneuvers.
—Arkansas Online, 7 Sep. 2025
Schanuel is continuing to do defensive drills.
—Jeff Fletcher, Oc Register, 7 Sep. 2025
Jon Greenberg, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2025
Parsons attended Cowboys practices during training camp but has not participated in any team drills.
—Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 8 Aug. 2025
After sitting out of Saturday’s team drills with arm soreness, Sanders was a full participant at Monday’s practice, but Flacco took all of the first-team reps during the 11-on-11 portion, according to ESPN.
—Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 4 Aug. 2025
Noun
That process typically involves progressing from conditioning work to non-contact drills before being cleared for full contact.
—Grant Afseth, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Sep. 2025
The drills come less than a week after around two dozen Russian long-range drones crossed into Poland, which shares a 260-mile border with Belarus and a 130-mile border with Kaliningrad.
—Patrick Reevell, ABC News, 15 Sep. 2025
Dogfighting drills push both the airframe and the pilot to their physical limits, with G-forces that test human endurance.
—Tony Bradley, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
Afterward, Mitchell became the editor of Nuclear Times, the disarmament magazine, despite having no nuclear background other than some extravagant atomic-bomb drills in junior high in the fifties.
—Zach Helfand, New Yorker, 15 Sep. 2025
Now there is fresh unease on NATO’s eastern flank, as Russia and Belarus kick off major military drills to test the readiness of their armed forces.
—Nathan Hodge, CNN Money, 12 Sep. 2025
For a generation that grew up with active school shooter drills and to-the-minute news alerts about mass shootings, desensitization to violence is likely more pronounced.
—Rachel Hale, USA Today, 12 Sep. 2025
Commanders emphasized that the drills are not just about riot shields and tactical maneuvers.
—Arkansas Online, 7 Sep. 2025
Schanuel is continuing to do defensive drills.
—Jeff Fletcher, Oc Register, 7 Sep. 2025
Verb
If New England drills the Dolphins, head coach Mike McDaniel might not make it to Week 3.
—Jon Greenberg, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2025
Parsons attended Cowboys practices during training camp but has not participated in any team drills.
—Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 8 Aug. 2025
After sitting out of Saturday’s team drills with arm soreness, Sanders was a full participant at Monday’s practice, but Flacco took all of the first-team reps during the 11-on-11 portion, according to ESPN.
—Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 4 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for drills
Noun
-
Proceeds go to the guest chef’s charity of choice and the two chefs break bread and get to know one another beyond their day-to-day routines.—
Kristin L. Wolfe,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
-
The resources are easy to use and designed to fit into busy, changing routines, especially during moves or deployments.—
Sari Hitchins,
Parents,
15 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Salesforce contract renewals often become routine exercises—reviewing user counts, negotiating minor discounts and signing on the dotted line.—
Buyan Thyagarajan,
Forbes.com,
16 Sep. 2025
-
For its part, China last month urged the US not to send the Typhon missile system to Japan for the Resolute Dragon exercises.—
Brad Lendon,
CNN Money,
16 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
It’s finished with a generous sprinkling of salt and a few grinds of black pepper.—
Susan Selasky,
Freep.com,
31 Aug. 2025
-
And Destiny 2 has had some bad grinds in the past.—
Paul Tassi,
Forbes.com,
25 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
The White House has floated a goal of 3,000 daily ICE arrests, raising concerns among advocates who say such quotas encourage indiscriminate enforcement practices and undermine due process protections.—
Martha McHardy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Sep. 2025
-
According to Global Canopy’s Forest500 rankings, only 3% of companies that produce commodities that contribute to deforestation--including beef, leather, palm oil, pulp and paper, soy, timber, cocoa, rubber, and coffee--have strong commitments and practices to reduce forest clearing.—
Marianne Krasny,
Forbes.com,
16 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Drills.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/drills. Accessed 20 Sep. 2025.
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