BALLS Synonyms: 80 Similar and Opposite Words

balls 1 of 3

noun (1)

plural of ball

as in spheres

a more or less round body or mass the little rubber ball used in racquetball a ball of string

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in bullets

a usually round or cone-shaped little piece of lead made to be fired from a firearm found a cache of musket balls while excavating the old fort

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blanks

balls

2 of 3

noun (2)

plural of ball

as in dances

a social gathering for dancing a ball to celebrate the inauguration

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balls

3 of 3

verb

present tense third-person singular of ball

as in rounds

to form into a round compact mass balled up the paper and threw it at the garbage can

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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 balls

Noun

Playing in humid, yet breezy conditions on a mild August evening, players saw balls that appeared to be hit hard didn’t travel as far as others. — Dan Hayes, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2026 Hundreds of people with stereo systems, disco balls, tents, kegs and mattresses left huge amounts of trash, set off fireworks and used Tunitas Creek Beach as a bathroom during all-night events. — Paul Rogers, Mercury News, 13 Aug. 2026 Hailstones the size of ping pong balls are possible, the NWS said. — Jen Guadarrama, IndyStar, 13 Aug. 2026 There’s a very on-the-balls-of-her-feet sort of [quality to her]. — Carita Rizzo, Deadline, 13 Aug. 2026 The winning ticket matched four of the five white balls plus the Power Ball and had the Power Play, according to the CT Lottery’s website. — Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 13 Aug. 2026 The company is also introducing some non-chocolate treats, such as LesserEvil pumpkin spice popcorn and LesserEvil cheesy corn balls with Halloween packaging. — Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 13 Aug. 2026 One ticket sold in Tennessee matched all five white balls and included the Power Play option to win $2 million. — Avni Trivedi, CNN Money, 12 Aug. 2026 Two additional tickets sold in California and Maryland matched all five white balls and won $1 million each, according to Powerball. — Fernando Cervantes Jr, USA Today, 12 Aug. 2026

Verb

Bassey signs, Ike balls out An hour after the Warriors officially signed reserve center Charles Bassey to a one-year deal, Graham Ike did his best to show that the backup center position should still be considered in flux. — Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 10 July 2026 The second and third outs were called third strikes, both of them initially balls before All-Star catcher Realmuto challenged through the Automated Ball-Strike System (ABS), or so called robot umpires, that will be used in the regular season for the first time this year. — CBS News, 6 Mar. 2026 Arrange dough balls 2 inches apart on prepared cookie sheets. — Holly Riordan, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 Mar. 2026 Each team received their shipment of logo balls several weeks ago from the Wilson factory so that equipment managers would be able to properly prepare the footballs for their respective offenses. — Kristi Scales jan. 5, Dallas Morning News, 5 Jan. 2026 Place balls 3 inches apart on 3 large baking sheets lined with parchment paper (about 12 cookies per sheet). — Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 27 Nov. 2025 Defense overall just balls Two. — Miami Herald, 26 Oct. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for balls

Noun

These mRNA-lipid nanoparticles, or LNPs, are tiny spheres about 100 nanometers in diameter that protect mRNA from degradation and facilitate its delivery into target cells.

— Li Li, The Conversation, 6 Aug. 2026
LipLift is powered by the brand’s proprietary Hyaluron Peptide-6 BioFill, a topical volumizing technology formulated with six advanced biomimetic peptides, hyaluronic acid oil, poly-hyaluronic acid filling spheres and bioidentical skin lipids.

— Kathryn Hopkins, Footwear News, 4 Aug. 2026

Definition of spheres

Noun

Georgia is culturally alive and vibrant—polyphonic singing seen and heard through swirling traditional dances, finally, felt through ancient cobblestones underfoot.

— Condé Nast Traveler, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Aug. 2026
Speirs began moving and grooving between innings, choreographing dances for each player’s walk-up song.

— Abigail Dollins, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 Aug. 2026

Definition of dances

Noun

In another Amsterdam photo, a pair of identical world globes, recalling Ghirri’s passion for cartography and atlases, rest on matching supports to conjure that oldest of surrealist tropes, a pair of staring eyes.

— James Quandt, Artforum, 2 June 2026
Besides dusting, this includes wiping off the lightbulbs, removing any light globes to wash and dry them, and wiping dust from the fan’s motor and pull chain with a microfiber cloth.

— Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 14 May 2026

Definition of globes

Noun

Video from inside the school shows students seeking shelter beneath tables in a classroom, tables overturned and stacked, and bullet shells on the floor.

— Connor Greene, Time, 7 Aug. 2026
At the time, the shells were usually made from resin composite or a thicker, more opaque porcelain material than what dentists have access to today.

— Elizabeth Gulino, Allure, 7 Aug. 2026

Definition of shells

Noun

In addition to showing up everywhere, from festivals to parades and weddings to proms, the Wienermobile has also helped people, including Drew Barrymore, celebrate their birthdays over the decades with special stops made in their honor.

— Stacy Lambe, PEOPLE, 31 July 2026
Dunkin’ Prom, which funds alternative proms for teens who may have missed theirs for medical reasons and lastly, grants to customize hospital spaces to create joy.

— Zuri Primos June 29, Kansas City Star, 29 June 2026