1
as in slug
a lazy person
those drones just lie around while we do all the work
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in laborer
a person who does very hard or dull work
after lunch my fellow drones and I shuffle back to our cubicles
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in hum
a monotonous sound like that of an insect in motion
heard the drone of an airplane overhead
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to hum
to fly, turn, or move rapidly with a fluttering or vibratory sound
the sound of droning bees all around us
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in to lazy
to spend time doing nothing
instead of getting a job, he preferred to drone and live off his parents
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Example Sentences
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show current usage.
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Recent Examples of drone
Karoline Leonard, Austin American Statesman, 30 July 2025
Police departments across the county have been using drones for years.
—Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 July 2025
Josh Miller, Southern Living, 31 May 2025
The earbuds are adept at reducing noise below about 100Hz, which is excellent for lower-frequency droning sounds.
—PC Magazine, 28 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for drone
Noun
These delivery robots or drones are usually capable of carrying lighter, inexpensive items, such as food, and sometimes incorporate coolers for that purpose, Veho co-founder and chief technology officer Fred Cook told the American-Statesman on Tuesday.
—Karoline Leonard, Austin American Statesman, 30 July 2025
Police departments across the county have been using drones for years.
—Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 July 2025
Verb
There’s no sound more evocative of summer than that of an old-school ice cream maker’s motor droning its monotonous naaaaaaaa with the backbeat of gas station ice and rock salt grinding and shifting against the spinning ice cream cannister.
—Josh Miller, Southern Living, 31 May 2025
The earbuds are adept at reducing noise below about 100Hz, which is excellent for lower-frequency droning sounds.
—PC Magazine, 28 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for drone
Recent Examples of Synonyms for drone
Verb
-
Listen: That song your kids are humming (or belting out)?—
Burkhard Bilger,
New Yorker,
29 July 2025
-
The place where my embarrassment typically sat in my body was replaced with a quiet humming feeling, a relief, a full-body homecoming.—
Natalie Guerrero
July 28,
Literary Hub,
28 July 2025
Verb
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Add Hollywood buzz to the mix, and this 1973 bike is a keeper.—
Kristin Shaw,
Forbes.com,
14 July 2025
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Social media platforms, particularly X, buzzed with posts expressing grief, anger, and speculation.—
Theo Burman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
13 July 2025
Verb
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His own big dogs get a walk every day but then are content lounging around and following him from room to room.—
Jen Reeder,
Forbes.com,
1 Aug. 2025
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Whether your plans for the season involve lounging poolside or simply spending more time socializing on your newly furnished patio, outdoor bar carts are ready to roll for an at-home happy hour at impromptu times.—
Blake Bakkila,
Architectural Digest,
1 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Pickford dived to his right to try to keep out a Mason Mount shot and the ball struck one post before zipping across goal, hitting the other upright and pinballing out to the waiting Chelsea captain.—
The Athletic UK Staff,
New York Times,
23 July 2025
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On a physical level, household tasks can lead to stronger fine-motor skills, which are essential for, say, zipping a jacket and handwriting, and which teachers report have been declining over the past several years.—
Christine Carrig,
The Atlantic,
21 July 2025
Verb
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After chilling the base, each version develops its distinct personality, with chocolate and cookies for one, and brown sugar and balsamic for the other.—
Elizabeth Fogarty,
Better Homes & Gardens,
26 July 2025
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Asked if he’s ever told Brooks to chill, Smart brought up something former Georgetown coach John Thompson once told him.—
Doug Haller,
New York Times,
24 July 2025
Verb
-
And while humans tend to veg out on the couch, canines typically only watch for short periods.—
Liz O'Connell,
MSNBC Newsweek,
9 May 2025
-
Making the choice to be social is especially difficult at the end of an exhausting day when your impulse may be to veg out on the couch.—
Allie Volpe,
Vox,
7 Dec. 2018
Verb
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They are also encouraged not to idle in vehicles as exhaust fumes can contribute to air pollution.—
Joe Edwards,
MSNBC Newsweek,
23 July 2025
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On air quality alert days, the Southwest Ohio Air Quality Agency recommends several ways community members can help reduce ozone formation, including taking the bus or biking instead of driving, not idling vehicles and refueling vehicles after 8 p.m What is the heat index?—
Grace Tucker,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
23 July 2025
Verb
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Paired with the gray-ish green color palette, sparse decor, and dark atmospherics in the Institute itself, the bleak vibes may be enough to turn some viewers off for good, especially those horror purists who tune in hoping to be terrified rather than just bummed out.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
13 July 2025
-
In a lot of ways obviously, devastated and bummed out.—
Mike Fitzpatrick,
Baltimore Sun,
5 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Drone.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/drone. Accessed 4 Aug. 2025.
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