1
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
2
as in shooting
to strike with a missile from a gun
drilled the target from 100 yards away
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 21 Oct. 2025
The match ended after Rhodes was disqualified for drilling McIntyre with his championship.
—Fernando Quiles Jr, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Oct. 2025
Months later, multiple TikTok videos used the track in clips that went viral on the platform, drilling it into the consciousness of American youth in an awe-inspiring and perhaps deeply concerning way that TikTok videos can.
—Kevin Dolak, HollywoodReporter, 16 Oct. 2025
To be sure, California would be within its power to prohibit drilling by condemning mineral estates through eminent domain and paying compensation to the owners.
—Chris Kieser, Oc Register, 14 Oct. 2025
This heat moves outward through layers of rock and can be captured by drilling wells to access hot water, steam, or dry rock formations.
—Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 10 Oct. 2025
This method does not require drilling new wells, which significantly reduces setup costs and environmental disruption and accelerates deployment.
—Moones Alamooti, The Conversation, 8 Oct. 2025
Energy Secretary Chris Wright has argued that the administration is making drilling cheaper by cutting red tape.
—Spencer Kimball, CNBC, 30 Sep. 2025
The company got permission from the DNR to start exploration in 2023, but did not start drilling until this year.
—Laura Schulte, jsonline.com, 29 Sep. 2025
Verb
Dart and the Giants should’ve been victorious in Denver, too, but a collapse of epic proportions ensued with Wil Lutz drilling a game-winning field goal to cement the biggest comeback win this season in the NFL.
—Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 21 Oct. 2025
The match ended after Rhodes was disqualified for drilling McIntyre with his championship.
—Fernando Quiles Jr, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Oct. 2025
Months later, multiple TikTok videos used the track in clips that went viral on the platform, drilling it into the consciousness of American youth in an awe-inspiring and perhaps deeply concerning way that TikTok videos can.
—Kevin Dolak, HollywoodReporter, 16 Oct. 2025
To be sure, California would be within its power to prohibit drilling by condemning mineral estates through eminent domain and paying compensation to the owners.
—Chris Kieser, Oc Register, 14 Oct. 2025
This heat moves outward through layers of rock and can be captured by drilling wells to access hot water, steam, or dry rock formations.
—Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 10 Oct. 2025
This method does not require drilling new wells, which significantly reduces setup costs and environmental disruption and accelerates deployment.
—Moones Alamooti, The Conversation, 8 Oct. 2025
Energy Secretary Chris Wright has argued that the administration is making drilling cheaper by cutting red tape.
—Spencer Kimball, CNBC, 30 Sep. 2025
The company got permission from the DNR to start exploration in 2023, but did not start drilling until this year.
—Laura Schulte, jsonline.com, 29 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Drilling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/drilling. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share