1
as in nonsense
language, behavior, or ideas that are absurd and contrary to good sense
that critic's reviews are nothing but self-important drivel
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in babble
unintelligible or meaningless talk
my roommate talks in her sleep, but it's just drivel
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
2
as in to chatter
to speak rapidly, inarticulately, and usually unintelligibly
he driveled on about his "distinguished" family for what seemed like hours
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 drivel
Nain Abdi,
Forbes.com,
3 Feb. 2026
Will anyone please save us from this drivel?
—
Mark Kennedy,
Boston Herald,
29 Jan. 2026
Jeffrey Weiss,
Artforum,
1 May 2025
Gretchen Bender superimposes potent phrases or ideas onto television screens blaring out the usual stream of nonsense, drivel and enticement.
—
Philip Kennicott,
Washington Post,
6 Apr. 2023
See All Example Sentences for drivel
Noun
Stop asking the conceptual drivel that any candidate would know.
—
Nain Abdi,
Forbes.com,
3 Feb. 2026
Will anyone please save us from this drivel?
—
Mark Kennedy,
Boston Herald,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
In the painting Meaningless, 2003, for example, the words meaningless, senseless, and irrelevant eventually give way to blather, blabber, babble, then to drivel and drool, and, finally, to blah-blah-blah.
—
Jeffrey Weiss,
Artforum,
1 May 2025
Gretchen Bender superimposes potent phrases or ideas onto television screens blaring out the usual stream of nonsense, drivel and enticement.
—
Philip Kennicott,
Washington Post,
6 Apr. 2023
See All Example Sentences for drivel
Recent Examples of Synonyms for drivel
Noun
-
Until recently, that would have sounded like absolute nonsense.
-
There weren’t meetings with executives about tone and mood and all this nonsense.
Noun
-
The film almost completely drops any and all scientific babble from the book in favor of character development, action sequences, and emotional gut punches.
-
Read a book and sip tea in front of the central fireplace, swim between the indoor and outdoor sections of the glimmering pool, and soak your aching quads in the hot tubs under the evergreens and aspens while listening to the peaceful babble of Gore Creek.
Verb
-
Isaacs said the symptoms of heat stress or heat stroke include excessive panting, drooling, vomiting, seizures or collapse.
-
This golden lasagna is the perfect way to offer a vegetarian option that meat-eaters will be drooling over.
Verb
-
The youthful musicians chattered away like creatures of the Transylvanian night.
-
That’s nothing more than a nonsensical, demonizing political narrative spewed by left-wing politicians and their brethren in the progressive chattering class.
Noun
-
Decomposing food can release hydrogen sulfide, a toxic gas synonymous with landfills and garbage.
-
Epidemics, worsened by the unsanitary conditions caused by the mountains of garbage the government has stopped collecting, combine with the shortage of medicines and the dire state of medical facilities.
Noun
-
The Korean Football Association was furious, responding to this juvenile, but ultimately harmless, prattle by boycotting the Korean press.
-
Some of the prattle can feel like treading water, a delaying tactic until the inevitable confrontation scene.
Verb
-
Over a Nineties hip-hop beat, East Coast to be exact, Czarface’s Inspectah Deck and Esoteric spit their verses before Hardy, er, Pulitzer comes in.
-
After being asked to leave the property by officials, Zimmerman spat toward a hotel security officer, prompting staff to call the police.
Verb
-
Serena’s name was on everyone’s lips, with fans chatting about the American’s chances and journalists jostling for position to get their hands on a reserved media seat.
-
Craig joined us to chat about his new show, his love for America, and his experience with becoming an American citizen.
Cite this Entry
“Drivel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/drivel. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
