1
as in dripping
to fall or let fall in or as if in drops
water dribbling over the lip of the fountain
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in splashing
to flow in a broken irregular stream
rainwater dribbling along the partially clogged gutter
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in drooling
to let saliva or some other substance flow from the mouth
picnickers dribbling in eager anticipation of the hamburgers on the grill
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in trickling
Related Words
Dissimilar 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 dribbling
Fred Katz, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2025
Just to get guys thinking and moving without over-dribbling and turning it into a one-on-one.
—Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 6 Oct. 2025
But that’s a lot different than dribbling a basketball and colliding with some of the most rugged players in the sport during game action.
—Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 28 Sep. 2025
Grainy video from 1975 shows the late Musselman’s Minnesota Gophers team juggling basketballs, launching trick shots and dribbling in unison to the Harlem Globetrotters’ theme music.
—Haley Sawyer, Oc Register, 19 Sep. 2025
Sporting was awarded the spot kick after a video review revealed Shapi Suleymanov had been fouled while dribbling in on goal.
—Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 8 Sep. 2025
Dowman gave Arsenal a different dimension with his dribbling ability which led to the award of a penalty kick from which Gyokeres scored his second of the game.
—Graham Ruthven, Forbes.com, 24 Aug. 2025
The robots were seen dribbling and kicking the ball on Monday, ahead of the games.
—Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 5 Aug. 2025
Adjective
Rollins rarely shoots when dribbling around a screen.
—Fred Katz, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2025
Just to get guys thinking and moving without over-dribbling and turning it into a one-on-one.
—Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 6 Oct. 2025
But that’s a lot different than dribbling a basketball and colliding with some of the most rugged players in the sport during game action.
—Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 28 Sep. 2025
Grainy video from 1975 shows the late Musselman’s Minnesota Gophers team juggling basketballs, launching trick shots and dribbling in unison to the Harlem Globetrotters’ theme music.
—Haley Sawyer, Oc Register, 19 Sep. 2025
Sporting was awarded the spot kick after a video review revealed Shapi Suleymanov had been fouled while dribbling in on goal.
—Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 8 Sep. 2025
Dowman gave Arsenal a different dimension with his dribbling ability which led to the award of a penalty kick from which Gyokeres scored his second of the game.
—Graham Ruthven, Forbes.com, 24 Aug. 2025
The robots were seen dribbling and kicking the ball on Monday, ahead of the games.
—Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 5 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dribbling
Verb
-
Hadid's looks for the night included a lace lingerie piece dripping in silver fringe and a red hot satin bra with a matching garter and underwear, along with a floor-sweeping robe.—
Angel Saunders,
PEOPLE,
23 Oct. 2025
-
And twenty miles across the fjord’s channel, three sea kayakers camping on high ground woke up to ocean water dripping into their tent, their gear strewn across the shore.—
Ella Nilsen,
CNN Money,
22 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Make sure the can is sealed to prevent spills and splashing.—
Kamron Sanders,
Better Homes & Gardens,
19 Oct. 2025
-
Guoda, who did not share her last name, posted a clip on TikTok (@mamadailyl) of her daughter’s feet splashing in the water.—
Daniella Gray,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Naturally, the post attracted over 16,000 comments of women drooling over him.—
Essence,
Essence,
20 Oct. 2025
-
Well, then it’s being stolen right out from under its retracting proboscis, which is actually just another drooling head that lives in its mouth.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
22 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Wash Delicates Keep delicates separate from other garments by washing them in old pillowcases.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
27 Oct. 2025
-
Sandra would go days in the same pajamas, not brushing her teeth, not washing her hair.—
Sean Williams,
Outside,
27 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Some of the feedback included concern over a scene involving DiCaprio and Winslet's characters, Jack and Rose, spitting off the side of the ship as the two's friendship begins to unfold.—
Stacy Lambe,
PEOPLE,
22 Oct. 2025
-
However, the Eagles still managed to hold the Dallas Cowboys to 20 points in their regular-season opening victory, a game Carter missed after being disqualified for spitting on quarterback Dak Prescott.—
Brooks Kubena,
New York Times,
10 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Los Angeles connected on a scant 5-of-18 from the field during that decisive final quarter.—
Alex Kirschenbaum,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Oct. 2025
-
During the campaign, this was one of the private residences used as a makeshift hospital for wounded Confederates, hundreds of whom are believed to be buried in a mass grave a scant 50 feet from the house.—
Jim Beaugez,
CNN Money,
23 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Nearly a million acres of wilderness stretch across Washington’s Olympic Peninsula, but in the heart of it are three mineral pools—their waters naturally heated within the earth and bubbling at a soothing 99 to 104 degrees.—
Evie Carrick,
Travel + Leisure,
24 Oct. 2025
-
Prints showed no stringing or bubbling even after several days of continuous use.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
24 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
A couple of weeks before the opening there was a launch of the memoir at Skylight which had a very sparse attendance.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
23 Oct. 2025
-
Indeed, Mamdani’s promise to focus on affordability seems to have resonated with the rank-and file industry workers at a time of sparse job opportunities and skyrocketing cost of living.—
Peter Kiefer,
HollywoodReporter,
23 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dribbling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dribbling. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share