as in scooping
to lift out with something that holds liquid
the server ladled out the soup from a large tureen
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of ladling
The style traces to Welsh rarebit (a pub classic of cheese sauce over toast) and found a second life here when the Younkers Tea Room started ladling its signature sauce over hamburgers mid‑century.
—
Susan Stapleton, Des Moines Register, 1 Apr. 2026
More than three dozen businesses will be ladling up the cozy stuff this year, including a few of my favorites from past events.
—Rachel Bernhard, jsonline.com, 19 Mar. 2026
The highlight for many is the Clam Chowder Cook-Off, where local restaurants go head-to-head, ladling out samples for visitors to taste and vote on.
—Pismo Beach Conference, Mercury News, 29 Aug. 2025
Muckey and another musician encouraged her to drink, at one point ladling alcohol over an ice luge.
—Sammy Sussman, Vulture, 8 Aug. 2025
Susan Stapleton, Des Moines Register, 1 Apr. 2026
More than three dozen businesses will be ladling up the cozy stuff this year, including a few of my favorites from past events.
—Rachel Bernhard, jsonline.com, 19 Mar. 2026
The highlight for many is the Clam Chowder Cook-Off, where local restaurants go head-to-head, ladling out samples for visitors to taste and vote on.
—Pismo Beach Conference, Mercury News, 29 Aug. 2025
Muckey and another musician encouraged her to drink, at one point ladling alcohol over an ice luge.
—Sammy Sussman, Vulture, 8 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ladling
Verb
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Late in the second period, down a goal, Burakovsky corralled a Bedard rebound off the end boards, scooping the puck and tucking it behind Utah goalie Vitek Vaněček for a quick lacrosse-style goal from the side of the net.—
Mark Lazerus,
New York Times,
10 Mar. 2026
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Everyone on station was used to the antique ingredients, just as they were used to scooping ice cream out of the core of three-gallon tubs.—
Cree LeFavour,
New Yorker,
7 Mar. 2026
Verb
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At least one of y’all admitted to spooning the salad into a bowl, topping it with paprika, and passing it off as homemade.—
Tara Massouleh McCay,
Southern Living,
1 Apr. 2026
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Then Shep leaps into bed with Austen, practically spooning him and draping his legs over the big muppet.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
5 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ladling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ladling. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
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