DRILLING Synonyms: 80 Similar and Opposite Words

drilling 1 of 2

verb (1)

Definition of drilling

present participle of drill

as in piercing

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in shooting

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

drilling

2 of 2

verb (2)

present participle of drill

as in planting

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 drilling

Verb

As its name suggests, the beetle bores into trees, drilling tunnels to create breeding galleries. — Jack Bantock, CNN Money, 13 Aug. 2026 The nuclear waste well will require drilling it about 22 inches wide instead, nearly triple the size. — Jordan Blum, Fortune, 9 Aug. 2026 Imagine a White player drilling a Black opponent above the neck, getting tossed and then immediately posting a racial accusation aimed at the opposing team. — Alejandro Avila Outkick, FOXNews.com, 9 Aug. 2026 Construction teams last week began drilling the first of 65 on-site wells that will reach depths of 820 feet, where the temperature is roughly 55 degrees year-round. — Brian J. Rogal, Chicago Tribune, 6 Aug. 2026 Another effective herbicide treatment involves drilling holes 8 inches deep into the stump and pouring herbicide into the holes. — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 2 Aug. 2026 Jacobs did not run with the starters Thursday, but did register a run-stuff and sniff out a screen for what would have been a loss while drilling with the second unit. — Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 30 July 2026 The challenge has been finding large enough deposits that drilling for the universe’s most abundant element is worth the effort. — Alan Ohnsman, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026 In June 2023, TotalEnergies officially began drilling for oil in the Tilenga project area within the park. — ABC News, 24 July 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for drilling

Verb

The woman eventually managed to escape and ran to a neighbor for help, WPLG reported, adding that her piercing screams were captured on home surveillance video.

— Landon Mion, FOXNews.com, 6 Aug. 2026
The company has been piercing girls and their mothers for nearly five decades with 131 million ears pierced to date.

— Sharon Edelson, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2026

Definition of piercing

Verb

Hardy hibiscus seeds germinate more easily; soak and nick seeds before planting indoors.

— Shelby Vittek, The Spruce, 15 Aug. 2026
Newly interested in landscape design, Kim’s mother also cultivated the property’s garden, grooming its old red pine tree and planting the grounds with tulips, chrysanthemums, and daisies.

— Hannah Martin, Architectural Digest, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of planting

Verb

Alaves' Ángel Pérez was reprimanded by coach Quique Sánchez Flores after being substituted and punching the bench several times.

— ABC News, ABC News, 15 Aug. 2026
Speaking to reporters before heading out on a campaign bus tour in Maine, Collins was asked about recent reports of a 1988 incident in which Jackson faced misdemeanor charges for punching an unnamed man.

— Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of punching

Verb

The attack relies on plugging the device, which costs less than $100, into a port hidden by a hatch on the exterior of the plane, which the researchers say is easily within reach of maintenance workers and airline staff.

— Frank Landymore, Futurism, 13 Aug. 2026
Meanwhile, plugging the case in for 10 minutes will give it and the buds 10 hours of juice in total.

— Mark Knapp, PC Magazine, 7 Aug. 2026

Definition of plugging

Verb

The possibility that some countries actually like seeding chaos in neighboring countries cannot be ruled out, as is the case with Rwanda undermining the Democratic Republic of the Congo,but such instances are rare.

— Eghosa E. Osaghae, Foreign Affairs, 11 Aug. 2026
If starting thyme from seed indoors, Shanahan recommends seeding in flats or takeout containers with drainage holes to save space and maintain even moisture.

— Alexandra Jones, The Spruce, 11 Aug. 2026

Definition of seeding

Verb

The 25-year-old from California opened the final with some swagger, popping four aces in the first game, but his self-assurance quickly ebbed.

— Ava Wallace, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2026
The eye-popping gains of Nvidia, Micron, Alphabet and other AI stocks have helped inflate the net worths of millions of Americans by lifting the value of their retirement nest eggs, college savings plans and brokerage accounts.

— Matt Egan, CNN Money, 13 Aug. 2026

Definition of popping

Browse Nearby Words

drillers

drilling

drillmaster

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“Drilling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/drilling. Accessed 20 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of drilling

verb (1)

verb (2)

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