drill 1 of 3

noun

Definition of drillnext
1
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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2
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 How to pronounce drill (audio)
1
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
2
as in to shoot
to strike with a missile from a gun drilled the target from 100 yards away

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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
It's designed to increase the sophistication of previous exercises with simultaneous air and naval drills geared toward improving joint ballistic missile defense, anti-submarine warfare, surveillance and other skills and capabilities. — ABC News, 27 Aug. 2026 Miami operated the final week of training camp as if preparing for a game week, with Wednesday’s practice a lighter session similar to Friday drills before a Sunday game. — David Furones, Sun Sentinel, 27 Aug. 2026
Verb
By the end of last year, 93 projects such as drilling 218 wells, building 144 classrooms and funding 109 women’s clubs were completed as part of the program. — Jennifer Bringle, Footwear News, 24 Aug. 2026 Berrios is sidelined right now by a soft tissue injury but was running pretty well on the side of team drills Monday. — Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 24 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for drill
Recent Examples of Synonyms for drill
  1. routine
  2. exercise
  3. pierce
  4. shoot
  5. plant
  6. grind
  7. practice
  8. punch
Noun
  • Teams cross multiple time zones, adjust practice and sleep schedules and play at a neutral site far from their normal routines.
    — Giovanni Malloy, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
  • As if dating weren’t already enough of a gamble, a new trend has some men skipping their usual hygiene routines before meeting a prospective partner.
    — Teresa Mull, FOXNews.com, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of routine
Noun
  • Those payloads give crews a visible way to assess where training rockets land during live-fire exercises.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 29 Aug. 2026
  • The potential benefits may also extend beyond a single workout for leaders who maintain a consistent exercise practice.
    — Julian Hayes II, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of exercise
Verb
  • Her brown leather jacket was pierced with 60 stab wounds, and her throat had been slashed nearly ear to ear.
    — Matthew Ormseth, Los Angeles Times, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Claire’s is trying to recapture its glory as the go-to destination for both tween girls and for piercing.
    — Emma Hinchliffe, Fortune, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of pierce
Verb
  • The project is slated to shoot in New Mexico in 2027 with Patrick Wirtz producing.
    — Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 27 Aug. 2026
  • In the first Fox Squirrel Cup at Rio Pinar, Christian Koehn shot 33 for LHP in the win over Winter Park, which was led by Lawson Hovey’s 32.
    — Steve Gorches, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of shoot
Verb
  • The island, just over 2 miles long, was created in the late 1960s from sand dredged during the deepening of the Elbe shipping channel that serves the port of Hamburg, then left to itself and gradually planted over.
    — Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Standing at two hours and 30 minutes, along with a 15-minute intermission, the narrative plants you in the middle of a world of ironies.
    — Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of plant
Noun
  • His daily grind — and conventional wardrobe — express his midlife rut and marital stagnation.
    — Fawnia Soo Hoo, HollywoodReporter, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Holly Marie Combs is through with the Hollywood grind — at least for now.
    — Daysia Tolentino, Entertainment Weekly, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of grind
Noun
  • Though none of the players who were cut seriously threatened for spots, a few should return to the practice squad.
    — Andrew Destin, New York Times, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Though interest in peptides is popular in certain wellness circles, including with podcasters like Joe Rogan, many of those who are seeking alternative medicine or who are going back to traditional cultural practices don’t fit the MAHA archetype.
    — Cara Kelly, USA Today, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of practice
Verb
  • James showed excellent vision and punch, and paired with Kaelon Black and Christian McCaffrey, the Niners should have three worthwhile, trustworthy backs this season.
    — Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Ross doesn’t tend towards punch-the-air climaxes—just warm, excitable builds.
    — Shaad D’Souza, Pitchfork, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of punch

Browse Nearby Words

drifts
drill
drilled
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Cite this Entry

“Drill.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/drill. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on drill

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about drill

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