DRONING Synonyms: 97 Similar and Opposite Words

droning

verb

present participle of drone

as in humming

to fly, turn, or move rapidly with a fluttering or vibratory sound the sound of droning bees all around us

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

as in idling

to spend time doing nothing instead of getting a job, he preferred to drone and live off his parents

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 droning His robust, under-appreciated score is composed with droning synthesizer undercurrents, old-fashioned action adventure fanfares, and intense rapid-fire tracks punctuated by brass exclamations and roaring percussion. — Jeff Spry, Space.com, 27 July 2026 The mics do a good job of cutting out droning background noise. — Mark Knapp, PC Magazine, 8 July 2026 Usually, the town’s namesake island, far down in downstate Illinois, is quiet enough to hear the hum of the barges droning along the Mississippi River. — Andrew Carter, Chicago Tribune, 5 July 2026 The sound of tattoo machines droning at different pitches filled the air at the fifth annual Capitol City Classic tattoo convention, on Saturday afternoon, the second day of its three-day run. — Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 14 June 2026 Instead, there’s a surplus of annoying, droning noise. — Luke Cyphers, Sportico.com, 11 June 2026 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 2026 Here, a morning coffee on the sea-view private sun terrace comes complete with diving swifts and droning dragonflies, not to mention the sound of pulling tides. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 May 2026 The constant, incessant, droning sounds in between each pitch that blare from the sound system are manufactured slop, screeching ‘NEW YORKKKKKKKK! — Chris Kirschner, New York Times, 22 Apr. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for droning

Verb

Some of Stamos other works have included portraits of Jamie Lee Curtis and his niece, paintings of humming birds, and his take on the Palace of Versailles.

— Brenton Blanchet, PEOPLE, 29 July 2026
Providing an energy lifeline to the rest of the world might have been a necessary step to keep its own economy humming.

— Rogé Karma, The Atlantic, 29 July 2026

Definition of humming

Verb

Video of the confrontation appears to show Nelson idling in a snowy strip mall parking lot in his gray Dodge Ram when another driver in an even larger pickup pulls in beside him.

— Sonja Sharp, Los Angeles Times, 10 July 2026
One aspect that contributed to the gridlock was a number of Waymo's self-driving robotaxis idling on the road as traffic officials tried to remedy the halt in traffic.

— Noe Padilla, USA Today, 10 July 2026

Definition of idling

Verb

Pre-chilling your cooler and its contents, layering ice strategically, and packing food properly can all help keep everything colder for longer.

— Olivia McIntosh, Martha Stewart, 30 July 2026
Long-term mortgage rates have already hit their highest level in nearly a year, chilling the housing industry.

— Stan Choe, Los Angeles Times, 28 July 2026

Definition of chilling

Verb

For tennis lessons, swinging at the driving range, and even lounging on the couch, this skort works for a range of occasions.

— Mia Huelsbeck, PEOPLE, 17 July 2026
The scoop neck and open back give the suit a flirty feel without sacrificing security, making this pick ideal for swimming and poolside lounging alike.

— Alexandra Malmed, InStyle, 16 July 2026

Definition of lounging

Verb

Even with their side trip to Utah, Memphis had four of the top seven players in minutes in Vegas, helped by playing a sixth game in the championship.

— John Hollinger, New York Times, 22 July 2026
Only the two teams that make the championship game playing a sixth game, but the Heat is likely out of the mix for the championship game with two losses in Las Vegas.

— Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 14 July 2026

Definition of playing

Verb

Kids who used to run to the field excited to play, suddenly started loafing to the field wearing their crocs with their heads buried in their phones.

— Joe Kinsey OutKick, FOXNews.com, 1 June 2026
The pair had been loafing for some time among a grove of apple trees on a private residence in Payson.

— Shi En Kim, AZCentral.com, 20 Feb. 2026

Definition of loafing

Browse Nearby Words

drones

droning

drool

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“Droning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/droning. Accessed 4 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of droning

verb

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