How to Use tiller in a Sentence

tiller

noun
  • The impacts struck about two feet from the smuggler at the tiller.
    — New York Times, 28 Jan. 2021
  • Early cars were steered using a tiller.
    — New Atlas, 17 Jan. 2026
  • The dhow’s captain leaned hard into the tiller and steered into the fjord.
    — Graeme Wood, The Atlantic, 17 Mar. 2026
  • Use a garden fork or tiller to loosen the soil to a depth of about 6 to 8 inches.
    — Lauren Wellbank, Martha Stewart, 16 Mar. 2026
  • Think of it as a tiller the Fed uses to help steer the economy.
    — Michael Steinberger, New York Times, 10 Jan. 2023
  • O’Donoghue steers us toward reckonings large and small, her hand steady on the tiller.
    — Hamilton Cain, New York Times, 27 June 2023
  • So my job was to keep the tiller heading towards the true north of redemption and revenge.
    — Brian Davids, The Hollywood Reporter, 31 Aug. 2023
  • The tiller truck is expected back in Charlotte by mid-March.
    — Charlotte Observer, 26 Feb. 2026
  • Loosen the soil to at least four inches deep; rent a small tiller at the garden center to save your back and your patience!
    — Arricca Elin Sansone, House Beautiful, 21 June 2019
  • Every time a tiller cuts through soil the structure is weakened, which can cause compaction and increase runoff.
    — oregonlive, 7 Sep. 2023
  • Gaughan has had his hand on the tiller of Cook County history.
    — Chicago Tribune Staff, Chicago Tribune, 29 Nov. 2022
  • The steering transmits a fair amount of feedback through the wheel, but its tiller could stand to be a touch quicker and more direct.
    — Derek Powell, Car and Driver, 11 Aug. 2021
  • To prep soil for the first time, break up hard dirt with a tiller or shovel and layer in compost or leaves to create a fluffy texture.
    — ABC News, 30 Apr. 2026
  • The pilot remains in control, steering via the cockpit tiller and pedals.
    — David Szondy june 07, New Atlas, 7 June 2026
  • Teran reportedly helped till the ground in the garden and also repaired a faulty tiller.
    — Nick Mordowanec, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 July 2025
  • And unwinding rusty chicken wire from your ‘tiller’s tines is a good way to ruin an otherwise nice day in the garden.
    — Paul Cappiello, The Courier-Journal, 23 Oct. 2020
  • The course that tiller charts or who will be steering it in a few months’ time remains the subject of intense speculation.
    — Max Goldbart, Deadline, 31 July 2025
  • Anglers powering a small skiff, jon boat, flat transom canoe or kayak need a transom mount trolling motor with a tiller drive.
    — Ric Burnley, Outdoor Life, 30 Jan. 2023
  • Light of tiller and strong of keel, yar and spry in good weather or bad, this little runabout spent the week putting a stupidly satisfied smile on this sailor’s face.
    — Dan Neil, WSJ, 19 May 2022
  • Add a 2– to 3-inch layer of organic matter and mix it into the soil with a tiller, shovel, or digging fork.
    — Nadia Hassani, The Spruce, 15 Mar. 2026
  • It's controlled via simple two-button operation or with the available remote that docks atop the tiller handle.
    — New Atlas, 10 Sep. 2025
  • Each boat features a tub heated to 104 degrees, a back deck for lounging and a tiller to leisurely steer yourself along the river.
    — Maia Pandey, jsonline.com, 11 Nov. 2025
  • Work compost and other amendments into the upper 6 to 12 inches of soil using a garden fork or tiller.
    — Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 31 May 2026
  • Work compost and other amendments into the upper 6 to 12 inches of soil using a garden fork or tiller.
    — Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 17 May 2026
  • The director, Ciarán O’Reilly, keeps a smooth hand on the tiller, guiding the cast through the show’s roller coaster of tonal shifts.
    — Charles Isherwood, WSJ, 4 Aug. 2022
  • Weed seeds, some of which can remain dormant in the soil for several years, come to the surface under the blades of a tiller, then germinate and become a problem.
    — oregonlive, 7 Sep. 2023
  • Whether the hands on America’s economic tiller are capable of guiding us to a fair future remains in question.
    — Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 4 Oct. 2022
  • America has largely been out of tune regarding that refrain, but its greatest defenders of democracy and its tillers for a better world have not.
    — Ken Makin, Christian Science Monitor, 18 May 2025
  • And, as Stevens, the gas tiller borrower, pointed out, another advantage to borrowing tools is not having to store them.
    — Caron Golden, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Oct. 2022
  • Twirling the steering wheel doesn't engage the senses much, but the tiller's progressive weighting strikes a nice balance between relaxed and responsive.
    — Eric Stafford, Car and Driver, 11 June 2021

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'tiller.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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