DRILL Synonyms: 121 Similar and Opposite Words

drill 1 of 3

noun

Definition of drill

as in routine

an established and often automatic or monotonous series of actions followed when engaging in some activity shuttling the kids between extracurricular activities is all part of the suburban drill

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Relevance

as in exercise

something done over and over in order to develop skill doing vocabulary drills all afternoon in preparation for the test

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drill

2 of 3

verb (1)

ˈdril

as in to pierce

to make a hole or series of holes in the nerve-jangling sound when a dentist drills a tooth

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to shoot

to strike with a missile from a gun drilled the target from 100 yards away

Synonyms & Similar Words

drill

3 of 3

verb (2)

as in to plant

to put or set into the ground to grow he drills soybeans in the same rows with corn

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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 drill

Noun

This includes small angled drills that will fit in spaces no ordinary drill can reach as well as massively powerful SDS rotary hammers and demolition drills. — Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 14 Oct. 2026 Love posed online as a player for the NFL’s San Francisco 49ers, posting videos of himself running drills with a 49ers helmet, driving in expensive sports cars, and living a lavish lifestyle on social media. — Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 14 Oct. 2026

Verb

Suzuki does not panic despite the increasing pressure, and picks out an impressive, splitting pass into the feet of striker Nicolas Jackson, drilling the ball straight through the middle of Hull’s defensive shape. — Thom Harris, New York Times, 14 Oct. 2026 Dewan is also filming The Rookie, so things are getting challenging as Val drills her on the technique — even on set between takes. — Katie Campione, Deadline, 13 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for drill

Recent Examples of Synonyms for drill

Noun

The new concealer and neutralizer make up a new two-step routine.

— Maggie Ryan, Flow Space, 16 Oct. 2026
Patients complete an online survey covering their skin concerns, history, current routine and goals, which is reviewed by a clinician licensed in their state.

— Kathryn Hopkins, Footwear News, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of routine

Verb

The sound of jackhammering in the Horsches’ backyard pierced the otherwise quiet street Wednesday afternoon.

— Danny Freeman, CNN Money, 11 Oct. 2026
Another piece sliced through his salivary gland before bouncing off his jaw and piercing the back of his neck, severing an artery and embedding in a vertebra.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of pierce

Verb

Belgal was shot by ICE Thursday, according to NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who said agents surrounded the man and a 5-year-old child in his car before firing multiple times.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 14 Oct. 2026
Original color photographs were scarce, since continuity stills were usually shot in black-and-white to save money.

— Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of shoot

Verb

Reduced tillage or no-till was used by 91 percent of participating growers; 56 percent planted cover crops.

— Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 15 Oct. 2026
And so the fungi then take up these nutrients and move them through these vast networks and feed them to plant roots.

— Quanta Magazine, Quanta Magazine, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of plant

Noun

Because of those factors, and perhaps coupled with my love for the game and fervor for the assignment, the daily grind never felt like that at all.

— Tyler Estep, AJC.com, 9 Oct. 2026
While voters may like to see a more unified Congress that quickly passes certain bills or agendas, the political grind that slows that process down appears to be good for the market.

— Kamaron McNair, CNBC, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of grind

Noun

Larsson has missed practice time and the final three preseason games because of his illness, and Smith missed the entire preseason after straining his calf during training camp.

— Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 17 Oct. 2026
Russia has also publicly acknowledged the drone attack on a refinery and broadcast images on state media, breaking with its usual practice in order to play up the incident.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of practice

Verb

Rams left tackle Alaric Jackson’s suspension for punching a Buffalo Bills player after a game has been reduced from two games to one, an NFL spokesman said Wednesday.

— Gary Klein, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026
For Lee, the true measure of a man is how many other men, and women, want to punch his lights out.

— Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of punch

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drifts

drill

drilled

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Style

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

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Synonyms of drill

noun

verb (1)

verb (2)

Example Sentences

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