as in spoon
a utensil with a bowl and a handle that is used especially in cooking and serving food
the chef looked around for a ladle to add the chicken broth to the pot
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
as in to scoop
to lift out with something that holds liquid
the server ladled out the soup from a large tureen
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of ladle
Jessica Kozuka, Travel + Leisure, 12 Jan. 2026
Bathe the platter of seafood with a ladle of soup.
—Georgeanne Brennan, Mercury News, 3 Dec. 2025
Sean Timberlake, Sacbee.com, 14 Mar. 2026
Remove vegetables with a slotted spoon to a serving bowl; ladle some hot pan liquid over the vegetables.
—Tribune Content Agency, Baltimore Sun, 4 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ladle
Noun
At the purification basin, visitors can use ladles of water to symbolically cleanse themselves and even their money.
—Jessica Kozuka, Travel + Leisure, 12 Jan. 2026
Bathe the platter of seafood with a ladle of soup.
—Georgeanne Brennan, Mercury News, 3 Dec. 2025
Verb
Toppings are added, and sauce is ladled on in parallel stripes across the top.
—Sean Timberlake, Sacbee.com, 14 Mar. 2026
Remove vegetables with a slotted spoon to a serving bowl; ladle some hot pan liquid over the vegetables.
—Tribune Content Agency, Baltimore Sun, 4 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ladle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ladle
Noun
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As the sun sank, neighbors began banging spoons on metal pots from inside their homes, the subtle but unmistakable clank of government protests.—
Kate Linthicum,
Los Angeles Times,
29 Mar. 2026
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Francis’ patent drawing has a complete spoon bowl with tines appearing out the front.—
James Stout,
Outside,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
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This summer, Eli Roth is heading behind the soda shop counter to scoop frozen confections — with a body count.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
31 Mar. 2026
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Proud, about a gay man who takes care of his infant niece after a family tragedy strikes, won the Grand Prize in the international competition and scooped best actor for lead Ignacy Liss.—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
27 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ladle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ladle. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
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