drone 1 of 3

noun (1)

ˈdrōn How to pronounce drone (audio)
Definition of dronenext
1
as in slug
a lazy person those drones just lie around while we do all the work

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in laborer
a person who does very hard or dull work after lunch my fellow drones and I shuffle back to our cubicles

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

drone

2 of 3

noun (2)

as in hum
a monotonous sound like that of an insect in motion heard the drone of an airplane overhead

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drone

3 of 3

verb

1
as in to hum
to fly, turn, or move rapidly with a fluttering or vibratory sound the sound of droning bees all around us

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2
as in to lazy
to spend time doing nothing instead of getting a job, he preferred to drone and live off his parents

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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 drone
Noun
Rather than approving only complete drones, the Blue UAS Framework also vets individual components like flight controllers, radios, Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receivers, cameras and software. — Yoav Amitai, Forbes.com, 26 Oct. 2026 Mestre sees opportunities to finance manufacturing expansion and consolidate Europe's fragmented defense supply chain, and considers the rapidly evolving drone market too immature for Weinberg's traditional buyout strategy. — Elsa Ohlen, CNBC, 26 Oct. 2026
Verb
Imagine Marlon James in a crisp, white shirt and conservative tie, droning through another day of brainless ad copy. — Geoff Edgers, Washington Post, 16 Sep. 2026 Black Frankenstein, Superfly Snuka droned, without looking up from his clipboard. — Literary Hub, 7 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for drone
Recent Examples of Synonyms for drone
  1. slug
  2. laborer
  3. hum
  4. buzz
  5. lounge
  6. snail
  7. worker
  8. purr
Noun
  • The live-by-the-slug, die-by-the-slug Dodgers have hit zero home runs in the NLCS.
    — Mirjam Swanson, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026
  • These beneficial predators spend the winter under leaves, emerging in spring to feed on common garden pests such as aphids, slugs and mites.
    — Manjot Kaur Sidhu, The Conversation, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of slug
Noun
  • Her philanthropic activities extended far beyond her own community to include Indigenous inmates, Chinese immigrants, and white laborers, along with countless other Angelenos.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 15 Oct. 2026
  • In the previous decades, Japan had brought in many Korean, Chinese, and Taiwanese laborers, often under duress, to work in factories and mines, usually in atrocious conditions.
    — Ian Buruma, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of laborer
Noun
  • The city itself felt largely quiet with the hum of so many electric vehicles.
    — Stephy Chung, CNN Money, 20 Oct. 2026
  • There’s a steady hum of excitement in New York City, where the Knicks clinched the NBA championship this past summer.
    — Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of hum
Verb
  • On this cloudy Saturday morning in September, Cape Town's College of Magic is buzzing with energy as dozens of students are competing in the annual junior magic contest.
    — Julie Bourdin, NPR, 25 Oct. 2026
  • Fielder and Oppenheim’s word-of-mouth sensation has taken pop culture by storm, earning millions at the box office, winning near-universal critical praise and generating a ton of press coverage, as well as Oscar buzz.
    — David Mack, CNN Money, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of buzz
Verb
  • My favorite touch was the deep-red plush bathrobe, which somehow made lounging in the room feel like part of the performance.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Oct. 2026
  • South Floridians of a certain vintage — those familiar with Las Olas pre-pandemic, anyway — may remember Mangos, the Floribbean locals lounge that lasted 25 years on the boulevard before closing in 2017.
    — Phillip Valys, Sun Sentinel, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of lounge
Noun
  • Now, researchers studying Japanese land snails have identified a gene that helps determine whether their shells coil clockwise or counterclockwise, offering new clues into how animals develop their left and right sides.
    — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 17 Oct. 2026
  • These under-eye saviors revitalize tired-looking eyes with eight firming peptides and snail mucin to deliver a deep boost of hydration.
    — Vivien Lee, InStyle, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of snail
Noun
  • In new measures, the army said most Palestinian workers with permits will not be allowed to enter Israeli West Bank settlements on Sunday and Monday, and crossings into Israel will remain closed until after Israel's elections on Tuesday.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 26 Oct. 2026
  • Crump also highlighted that Foster was accused of making a racially offensive remark to a co-worker days before the shooting, according to Mississippi Today.
    — Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of worker
Noun
  • Highlights and experiences It is always a special event stepping out of Venice’s airport onto a pontoon and a polished mahogany water taxi that drops you off canalside near your hotel, after a purr through the Grand Canal.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Sep. 2026
  • Kimie Smothermon begins each day greeted by the squeals, chirps and purrs of nearly 400 guinea pigs.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of purr

Browse Nearby Words

drolls
drone
droned
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Cite this Entry

“Drone.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/drone. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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