dole

noun

ˈdōl How to pronounce dole (audio)
Definition of dolenext
as in philanthropy
the giving of necessities and especially money to the needy a millionaire who was known for his annual Christmas dole to needy-looking strangers he met on the street

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 dole Residents also grew frustrated, as migrants reluctantly snared in endless court proceedings appeared to be gaming the system and living off the taxpayers’ dole. — Julia Preston, Foreign Affairs, 25 Oct. 2024 The author of that piece criticized the Social Security Administration for not updating a listing of jobs that benefit applicants might be able to do instead of going on the government dole collecting disability benefits. — Tom Margenau, Dallas News, 29 Jan. 2023 As recently as 2017, a dole of about 100 baby loggerhead turtles emerged from their eggs and began their journey from the sand to the sea on Assateague Island National Seashore. — Kristian Jaime, Baltimore Sun, 25 July 2022 As with other American officials feted in Azerbaijan on the regime’s dole, Cuellar routinely stumped for Azeri oil interests—helping the regime profit that much further. — Casey Michel, The New Republic, 26 Jan. 2022
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dole
  1. philanthropy
  2. charity
  3. welfare
Noun
  • But the rest of the world is not just where the needs are greatest—from acute childhood malnutrition to violence against women—but where the gains from philanthropy can be greatest.
    — David Miliband, Time, 19 Oct. 2026
  • Federal or state governments could seed the accounts, but philanthropy offers a faster, deficit-neutral start.
    — Sarah Cannon, Fortune, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of philanthropy
Noun
  • The event was livestreamed and proceeds from ticket sales to the concert and stream went to charity.
    — Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Yael Fuchs, a lawyer who spent a decade in the charities enforcement division of the New York attorney general’s office, said luxury executive benefits paid for by a nonprofit would likely interest a state or federal oversight body.
    — Audrey McGlinchy, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of charity
Noun
  • Child welfare officials sometimes consider a lack of shelter to be evidence of child neglect, along with other factors.
    — Nicole Santa Cruz, ProPublica, 9 Oct. 2026
  • When a character stops acting on behalf of himself and instead makes a choice to act on behalf of the welfare of another person, the story suddenly evokes a sheaf of nobler feelings.
    — Via Scribner, Literary Hub, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of welfare

Phrases Containing dole

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doldrums
dole
doled out
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Cite this Entry

“Dole.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dole. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on dole

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about dole

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