1
as in pierced
to make a hole or series of holes in
the nerve-jangling sound when a dentist drills a tooth
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2
as in popped
to strike with a missile from a gun
drilled the target from 100 yards away
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Recent Examples of drilled
Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 27 Apr. 2026
One out later, Carruthers drilled a two-out RBI single to center to stretch the lead to 5-1.
—Gary Curreri, Sun Sentinel, 25 Apr. 2026
Then LeBron James jumped a pass from Reed Sheppard and drilled the tying 3.
—Dan Woike, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2026
Redshirt freshman kicker Daniel Jackson drilled a 51-yard field goal in the first half, which was encouraging after Minnesota was 2 for 7 from 40-plus yards last season.
—Andy Greder, Twin Cities, 25 Apr. 2026
Curiosity drilled the clay mineral-containing sandstone sample in 2020, pulverized it and placed it within the SAM, or Sample Analysis at Mars, instrument, located in the rover’s belly.
—Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 24 Apr. 2026
Right-hander Logan Webb drilled Rushing in the ribs with a pitch in the sixth inning Thursday.
—Bill Plunkett, Oc Register, 23 Apr. 2026
Holes are drilled at an upward angle, leading to a central chamber where the bees then fall into a glass jar that traps them.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 23 Apr. 2026
Nickeil Alexander-Walker drilled a 3.
—C.j. Holmes, New York Daily News, 21 Apr. 2026
Verb
Within two minutes of checking in Sunday night at Xfinity Mobile Arena, Scheierman drilled a three and pulled down two offensive rebounds.
—Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 27 Apr. 2026
One out later, Carruthers drilled a two-out RBI single to center to stretch the lead to 5-1.
—Gary Curreri, Sun Sentinel, 25 Apr. 2026
Then LeBron James jumped a pass from Reed Sheppard and drilled the tying 3.
—Dan Woike, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2026
Redshirt freshman kicker Daniel Jackson drilled a 51-yard field goal in the first half, which was encouraging after Minnesota was 2 for 7 from 40-plus yards last season.
—Andy Greder, Twin Cities, 25 Apr. 2026
Curiosity drilled the clay mineral-containing sandstone sample in 2020, pulverized it and placed it within the SAM, or Sample Analysis at Mars, instrument, located in the rover’s belly.
—Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 24 Apr. 2026
Right-hander Logan Webb drilled Rushing in the ribs with a pitch in the sixth inning Thursday.
—Bill Plunkett, Oc Register, 23 Apr. 2026
Holes are drilled at an upward angle, leading to a central chamber where the bees then fall into a glass jar that traps them.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 23 Apr. 2026
Nickeil Alexander-Walker drilled a 3.
—C.j. Holmes, New York Daily News, 21 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Drilled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/drilled. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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