1
as in stacks
a quantity of things thrown or stacked on one another
a large pile of newspapers that needed to be disposed of
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in loads
a considerable amount
a job that paid piles of money
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in heaps
to lay or throw on top of one another
piled all the clothes on the chair before putting them away
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in huddles
to gather into a closely packed group
the kids piled into the car
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of piles
Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 Mar. 2026
The surge in crude prices unleashed by the Middle East conflict upends that and piles further pressure on the public finances.
—Ian King, CNBC, 18 Mar. 2026
Morgan said in addition to pothole alerts, the CTDOT is also getting calls for picking up litter that was under snow piles along state roads.
—Sean Krofssik, Hartford Courant, 18 Mar. 2026
For several weeks now, piles of trash have been accumulating on some streets of Havana because garbage trucks lack the fuel to collect it.
—Michael Rios, CNN Money, 18 Mar. 2026
The story follows struggling creatives navigating debt, eviction threats and a precarious gig economy, visualized in Riley’s inventive style — from looming piles of eviction notices to characters literally struggling up and down steep inclines that mirror the instability of their lives.
—Deborah Sengupta Stith, Austin American Statesman, 17 Mar. 2026
Police were filmed dumping out the contents onto the street or in drains and standing in front of piles of plastic jugs with colorful liquids inside.
—Madeline King, Chicago Tribune, 16 Mar. 2026
In addition to the fire threat in Nebraska, governors Tim Walz and Tony Evers of Minnesota and Wisconsin, respectively, have declared emergencies as snow piles up.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 16 Mar. 2026
Don't leave piles of mulch, compost, or weeds lying around the vegetable garden.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 14 Mar. 2026
Alexander Smith, NBC news, 27 Feb. 2026
But when snow piles up in powdery white masses, Arizonans can't resist the opportunity to play in it.
—Michael Salerno, AZCentral.com, 19 Feb. 2026
His intervention piles fresh pressure on the prime minister.
—Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 9 Feb. 2026
But the cleanups did remove the garbage that piles up along the San Juan, robbing the gillagers of a reliable source of income.
—Sean Williams, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
These outdoor hangout spots don't get much use during the winter, but snow still piles up on decks during winter storms.
—Lee Wallender, The Spruce, 8 Jan. 2026
Blackwood’s absence piles it on with several layers of awful.
—Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 4 Jan. 2026
Then Carol piles everything on her plate into a rough slice of avocado toast, mashing them together in an improvised layer.
—Scott Tobias, Vulture, 5 Dec. 2025
This recipe piles them on, casting apples — which are starting to appear at farmers markets — and nuts front and center as main characters supported by a chorus of greens.
—The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Sep. 2025
Noun
More than half of the bulk trash piles were scheduled for collection by a contractor, with fees charged to the property owners.
—Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 Mar. 2026
The surge in crude prices unleashed by the Middle East conflict upends that and piles further pressure on the public finances.
—Ian King, CNBC, 18 Mar. 2026
Morgan said in addition to pothole alerts, the CTDOT is also getting calls for picking up litter that was under snow piles along state roads.
—Sean Krofssik, Hartford Courant, 18 Mar. 2026
For several weeks now, piles of trash have been accumulating on some streets of Havana because garbage trucks lack the fuel to collect it.
—Michael Rios, CNN Money, 18 Mar. 2026
The story follows struggling creatives navigating debt, eviction threats and a precarious gig economy, visualized in Riley’s inventive style — from looming piles of eviction notices to characters literally struggling up and down steep inclines that mirror the instability of their lives.
—Deborah Sengupta Stith, Austin American Statesman, 17 Mar. 2026
Police were filmed dumping out the contents onto the street or in drains and standing in front of piles of plastic jugs with colorful liquids inside.
—Madeline King, Chicago Tribune, 16 Mar. 2026
In addition to the fire threat in Nebraska, governors Tim Walz and Tony Evers of Minnesota and Wisconsin, respectively, have declared emergencies as snow piles up.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 16 Mar. 2026
Don't leave piles of mulch, compost, or weeds lying around the vegetable garden.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 14 Mar. 2026
Verb
The result piles more pressure on Starmer, the least popular prime minister since records began, according to some polls.
—Alexander Smith, NBC news, 27 Feb. 2026
But when snow piles up in powdery white masses, Arizonans can't resist the opportunity to play in it.
—Michael Salerno, AZCentral.com, 19 Feb. 2026
His intervention piles fresh pressure on the prime minister.
—Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 9 Feb. 2026
But the cleanups did remove the garbage that piles up along the San Juan, robbing the gillagers of a reliable source of income.
—Sean Williams, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
These outdoor hangout spots don't get much use during the winter, but snow still piles up on decks during winter storms.
—Lee Wallender, The Spruce, 8 Jan. 2026
Blackwood’s absence piles it on with several layers of awful.
—Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 4 Jan. 2026
Then Carol piles everything on her plate into a rough slice of avocado toast, mashing them together in an improvised layer.
—Scott Tobias, Vulture, 5 Dec. 2025
This recipe piles them on, casting apples — which are starting to appear at farmers markets — and nuts front and center as main characters supported by a chorus of greens.
—The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for piles
Verb
-
For All Mankind also debuted a new relaxed slim jean for women that stacks well over heels.—
Angela Velasquez,
Sourcing Journal,
23 Feb. 2026
-
Special enough for a holiday occasion and hearty enough for a main course, this casserole stacks bright layers of veggies drenched in our Easy Cheese Sauce.—
Cameron Beall,
Southern Living,
20 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The couple huddles around a gas heater inside their home with their daughter and 4-year-old granddaughter to try and stay warm.—
Kati Weis,
CBS News,
4 Feb. 2026
-
Back at the castle, where the only thing haunting them is the ghosts of slain reality stars, everybody huddles to try to figure out whether to go for Ron or Colton.—
Tom Smyth,
Vulture,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Filming in front of real audiences, alongside real racers and real pit crews, the director crowds the screen with people.—
Savannah Salazar,
Vulture,
13 Dec. 2025
-
Long takes emphasize the mental labor of Hujar’s self-exploration, and Sachs’s framing (with cinematography by Alex Ashe) crowds the pair together to evoke the intimacy of their talk.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Fatemian simply bunches each slice slightly, creating a ruffled, flower-like radish slice that is then inserted between the rest of the vegetables.—
Sophia Beams,
Better Homes & Gardens,
6 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Piles.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/piles. Accessed 21 Mar. 2026.
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