Thesaurus results for DRUMS

drums 1 of 2

noun

plural of drum

as in barrels

a metal container in the shape of a cylinder an oil drum

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drums

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of drum

as in taps

to strike or cause to strike lightly and usually rhythmically absentmindedly drumming his fingers on the table

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 drums

Noun

As the song unfolds, the drums, lead vocal, background vocals, chord movement and production all play a role in carrying and reshaping it, allowing the sections to feel distinctly different while still remaining tightly connected. — David Penn, Billboard, 14 Oct. 2026 When the track properly kicks in, all of the elements of the busy mix from the low-mids and up are well balanced, with the drums, guitar strums, and vocals all easily discerned. — Will Greenwald, PC Magazine, 13 Oct. 2026 The ballad finds Fontaines’ Grian Chatten and Rosalía trading lines over a moody acoustic strum that repeatedly swells with strings and clattering drums. — Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 12 Oct. 2026 Return after exploring the Zambezi to a dinner around the boma with Makishi dancers and traditional Zambian drums. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Oct. 2026 On Dalporto’s watch, Guitar Center has leaned into relatively new, faster-growing areas like DJ equipment, keyboards, drums, and recording studio gear. — Phil Wahba, Fortune, 10 Oct. 2026 Richard’s singing and rapping weave between the relentless drums like a shuttle through a loom, accented by cool sax notes and vocal loops from the original, which was co-written by Richard’s father. — Stephen Kearse, Pitchfork, 9 Oct. 2026 At first, there was almost nothing onstage — no drums, just microphone stands on an undulating platform surrounding the venue’s Snake Pit. — Melinda Sheckells, HollywoodReporter, 2 Oct. 2026 The mix of drums informed by rap and R&B, strings and guitars gesturing to rock and country, and pop-radio confetti resulted in a grab bag of both great and grating quality. — Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 25 Sep. 2026

Verb

The franchise’s iconic theme song is starting to play, the loud warrior drums about to give way to that ubiquitous melody. — Ethan Millman, HollywoodReporter, 20 Aug. 2026 Krieger and Densmore, the two surviving members of The Doors, are the backbone of the video, revisiting the signature guitar and drums parts more than a half-century after they were originally laid to wax. — Randy McMullen, Mercury News, 8 Jan. 2026 Instead of another room with a priest and young woman growling on the bed, the exorcisms in The Wailing are accompanied by chanting crowds, firepits, and drums beating as a great spectacle is made of the ritual. — Michael Lee Simpson, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Oct. 2025 The video cuts to Camila, who reads the report outloud as Matthew drums on the bongo and offers his commentary on the report. — Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 24 Oct. 2025 Some of the pressure on federal lawmakers is also shifting to state-level leaders to fill the gaps as the shutdown drums on. — Claire Heddles, Miami Herald, 24 Oct. 2025 These cues told the robot which drums to strike and when. — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 8 Aug. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for drums

Noun

Washington previously agreed to loan 172 million barrels of oil from the SPR as part of a wider deal with about 30 countries in the International Energy Agency to release 400 million barrels from reserves around the world.

— Arathy Somasekhar Reuters, Arkansas Online, 17 Oct. 2026
The Dalmore is a Highland distillery known for aging its whisky in a combination of bourbon and sherry casks, often finishing the liquid in rare sherry, port, and other fortified wine barrels.

— Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of barrels

Noun

Many were injured, and there was insufficient food—including eight chocolate bars, some wine, two tins of mussels—to support survivors.

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 8 Oct. 2026
Many of the colorful tins popular on social media, such as those from Fishwife, are packed in sauces, oils or other flavorful ingredients.

— Jo Ann Liguori, Flow Space, 5 Oct. 2026