trickling 1 of 2

adjective

as in sparse

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trickling

2 of 2

verb

present participle of trickle
1
as in dripping
to fall or let fall in or as if in drops trickled a little honey into her tea

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in splashing
to flow in a broken irregular stream the brook trickled along the glade

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 trickling
Verb
Now, the first cases appear to be trickling back — though some fans are still waiting. — Peter Burke, FOXNews.com, 30 Sep. 2026 Rich chocolate-brown suede is also having a moment across coats, blazers and bombers, and is even trickling down into accessories like handbags according to a stylist and editor roundup from Yahoo! — Lauren Schuster, Miami Herald, 30 Sep. 2026 Lately, they’re increasingly placed asymmetrically, a detail borrowed from athletic shoes that’s now trickling down to streetwear. — Emily Kelleher, InStyle, 24 Sep. 2026 As Atari wrapped up his tour, the day’s heat was chasing the Ostrich Army out of their beds to go and greet the reinforcements who were trickling in. — J. B. MacKinnon, Harpers Magazine, 22 Sep. 2026 News of settlement talks began trickling out on Friday but four of the AGs in the group were subsequently described as holding out for more concessions from Paramount. — Dominic Patten, Deadline, 21 Sep. 2026 Then the orders started trickling into her store, too, and that envy was quickly replaced by confusion. — Francesca Mancino, New Yorker, 8 Sep. 2026 As the complete genome sequences of other model organisms began trickling in, Wolfe used his bioinformatics expertise to look for genome duplications there. — Carrie Arnold contributing, Quanta Magazine, 2 Sep. 2026 Kidman and Bullock’s sisterly chemistry, the nearly all-female cast, the camp value, and the film’s lore trickling out over the years have also contributed to a recent resurgence of interest. — Jacqui Palumbo, CNN Money, 2 Sep. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for trickling
  1. sparse
  2. dripping
  3. splashing
  4. scant
  5. flowing
  6. washing
  7. dribbling
  8. bubbling
Adjective
  • The Kings began in 1967 before a sparse crowd in Long Beach, as executive Alan Rothenberg helped sell a skeptical Southern California on hockey’s place in a warm-weather city.
    — Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times, 5 Oct. 2026
  • A couple of decades later, however, Ryan Field gamedays often seemed sparse.
    — Shun Graves, Chicago Tribune, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of sparse
Verb
  • In a twist on tailoring, jackets dripping with fringe made their way down the runway at Monse.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 16 Sep. 2026
  • Zendaya, who was a nominee for her powerful performance on the HBO drama Euphoria, wore a glamorous Prada gown dripping with crystals that was styled by Law Roach.
    — Leigh Blickley, Entertainment Weekly, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of dripping
Verb
  • Platt shot cellphone video showing ferocious waves spilling over the promenade along East Brigantine Avenue on Saturday, pushing two bike racks aside and splashing Mayor Vince Sera.
    — Madeleine Wright, CBS News, 29 Sep. 2026
  • And don’t forget to pack your best red outfit for Virgin’s over-the-top deck party, Scarlet Night, which inevitably ends up with everyone splashing around in the pool until the wee hours of the morning.
    — Megan duBois, Southern Living, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of splashing
Adjective
  • Residents of Mekelle told the Associated Press on Saturday that federal forces had retaken the airport, although details were scant.
    — Rodney Muhumuza, Los Angeles Times, 4 Oct. 2026
  • The name of the collection parodies the seriousness of the museum, even as the collection itself is the kind of thing that has traditionally gotten scant attention within actual institutions.
    — Brian Boucher, ARTnews.com, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of scant
Verb
  • The cash is flowing to candidates, super PACs and industry groups aiming to shape policy fights in Washington.
    — Luke Fountain, CNBC, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Olivia Rodrigo originally planned to hit the stage at her inaugural Daisy Chain Fields festival in August in an iconic floor-length, flowing white gown.
    — Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of flowing
Verb
  • The self-sanitizing pod is equipped with a power-washing system that cleans and disinfects the toilet and the floor for a few minutes after each use.
    — Marissa Sulek, CBS News, 29 Sep. 2026
  • For some, that means washing one or two times a week compared to the UK or US, where 41% of people wash upwards of three times a week, with 21% washing their hair every other day.
    — Anita Bhagwandas, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of washing
Adjective
  • In a recent lab demonstration done by the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), the compact humanoid moved with surprising fluidity—dribbling, passing, and sinking shots after practising thousands of simulated drills.
    — Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 25 Nov. 2025
Definition of dribbling
Verb
  • Transfer to your favorite baking dish, top generously with additional Parmesan, and gratiné until bubbling and golden.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 2 Oct. 2026
  • In the face of all that truthiness bubbling up, executives lost the ability to manage expectations internally and with partners.
    — Simon Denny, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of bubbling

Browse Nearby Words

trickles
trickling
trick (out)
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Cite this Entry

“Trickling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/trickling. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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