DOLING OUT Synonyms: 61 Similar and Opposite Words

doling out

verb

present participle of dole out

as in distributing

to give out (something) to appropriate individuals she doles out office supplies as if she were paying for them out of her own pocket

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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 doling out The investigation was sparked after the West Side safety net hospital came under fire for improperly doling out COVID-19 vaccinations soon after the shots became available. — Jason Meisner, Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2026 Straight Talk As a radio-show therapist doling out wisdom in 1992’s Straight Talk, Parton brought a lot of her own experiences to the big screen. — Jack Smart, PEOPLE, 25 Aug. 2026 Palmer himself paced the room on a phone call, doling out smiles of encouragement and inspiring a hushed reverence in his wake. — Colleen McNally Arnett, Southern Living, 20 Aug. 2026 The Dodgers, to their credit, have built a great team—not only by doling out huge salaries but by building an élite development program. — Diego Lasarte, New Yorker, 9 Aug. 2026 Online, influencers in the looksmaxxing space have leveraged other men's insecurities to enormous fame while doling out aesthetic advice with little, if any, credentials. — Charles Trepany, USA Today, 7 Aug. 2026 While other kids his age were doling out loot bags stuffed with Bazooka bubble gum and slap bracelets, Lovett was recording his favorite music on cassette tapes as party favors. — Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 25 July 2026 Still, Ocasio-Cortez has been far more cautious than Sanders in doling out endorsements this cycle and has gone to greater lengths to avoid friction with her colleagues in the House. — David Sivak, The Washington Examiner, 19 July 2026 Food and drink Days here start at Rice Kitchen, the all-day diner doling out breakfasts of avocado toast with roast tomatoes and white asparagus, and fruit- and flower-topped little bowls of yogurt from Da Lat. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 July 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for doling out

Verb

Instead, Goldman economists suggest that Seoul try some more immediate solutions, like helping elderly Koreans unlock their housing wealth, and better distributing the windfall from the country’s super-profitable tech firms.

— Mia Osmonbekov, Fortune, 30 Aug. 2026
That year, the head trainer of the Commanders was found to have been illegally distributing oxycodone to players — an unsettling reminder of the NFL's difficult history with painkillers.

— ABC News, ABC News, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of distributing

Verb

The agreement resolves a lawsuit filed in 2020 that alleged Walmart repeatedly violated the federal Controlled Substances Act by unlawfully dispensing opioid prescriptions at pharmacies across the country.

— Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2026
Squeeze bottles are also helpful for storing and dispensing homemade condiments (think spicy mayo) or syrups for coffee or cocktails.

— Alaina Chou, Bon Appetit Magazine, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of dispensing

Verb

The next day, Mladic's forces were filmed handing out sweets to children, promising their safe passage.

— Ivana Sekularac, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2026
My interest came from learning folk songs, memorable stories passed down over the generations in an oral sense before the American music business cut it up and started handing out ownership of copyrights and publishing.

— Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of handing out

Verb

Thompson will be joined by singer-songwriter Gary Clark, providing the music, with original lyrics by both her and Clark.

— Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 27 Aug. 2026
For Abdul-Kafi, making barbecue means providing first-time experiences to people who have traditionally been unable to eat it.

— Maven Navarro, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of providing

Verb

Another popular option is the 50/20/30 method, which entails allocating 50% of your income to your needs, 20% to your savings and 30% to your wants.

— Mallika Mitra, Sacbee.com, 24 Aug. 2026
Discrepancy theory is a branch of mathematics concerned with allocating resources as evenly as possible.

— Quanta Magazine, Quanta Magazine, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of allocating

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doles out

doling out

doll

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“Doling out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/doling%20out. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of doling out

verb

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