drivel
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
It was "20 tracks of instrumental drivel", she says.
From BBC ● Aug. 22, 2025
The horror space does not necessarily demand ingenuity; there’s an audience for even the worst drivel at the bottom of the barrel.
From Salon ● Feb. 26, 2025
But some of the books I got were pure academic drivel, totally useless, that gave me no guidance or comfort.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 17, 2024
“How could the big moguls in their plush counting houses high above Manhattan not read a guy who wrote that ‘on the TV screen pure drivel tends to drive out ordinary drivel’?”
From New York Times ● Jun. 29, 2023
Had he known what drivel filled his head, he would have shouted.
From "A Clash of Kings" by George R.R. Martin
"I was just part of this greater thing, or place, or force, or energy," he drivels, like a semi-articulate hippy.
From The Guardian ● Apr. 10, 2011
He desires to vomit; he drivels, and swallows his drivel, pretending to enjoy this little amusement.
From The Kreutzer Sonata and Other Stories by Tucker, Benjamin R.
He dilates his nostrils as much as possible; he drivels, saying to himself that there is enough there to last for a year, for ten years, for his whole life!
From The Temptation of St. Antony or A Revelation of the Soul by Flaubert, Gustave
When charity drivels it ought to be turned off by justice!
From Hidden Hand by Southworth, Emma Dorothy Eliza Nevitte
He wishes for 'a boat' to sail the deeps— Of ocean?—No, of air; and then he makes Another outcry for 'a little boat,' And drivels seas to set it well afloat.
From Don Juan by Byron, George Gordon Byron, Baron
He had driveled along respectably so far, he thought, but he had the sentimental longings of years, starved of expression, culminating in his heart.
From The Gentleman from Indiana by Tarkington, Booth
So Mrs. Finch driveled mildly on, in her large loose untidy handwriting, to the bottom of the third page.
From Poor Miss Finch by Collins, Wilkie
All the way up the mountain he driveled to me about asparagus on toast, a thing that his intelligence in life had skipped.
From The Gentle Grafter by Greening, H. C.
Then his reflections driveled off into stupor, and he sat on an empty keg with the conical crown of his old felt hat pointed forward, and his hands hanging limply between his knees.
From Stories of the Foot-hills by Graham, Margaret Collier
The very horses had caught the inspiration of the moment, champing bits in their effort to forge to the front rank, while the blood-stained slaver coated many breasts or driveled from our boots.
From The Outlet by Adams, Andy
There are multitudes of cases in which, when too great a weight has been crowded on the delicate organism through which thoughts move, its balance has been upset, and it has drivelled into idiocy.
From Love to the Uttermost Expositions of John XIII.-XXI. by Meyer, F. B. (Frederick Brotherton)
The conversation drivelled on in this way for a few miles, and finally turned into a heated discussion of the wine-list at the back of the menu.
From On the right of the British line by Nobbs, Gilbert
Dogs, dogs," drivelled old Horace Talbot, "Beachfield 's always talking about dogs.
From The Sport of the Gods by Dunbar, Paul Laurence
"I'm naturally anxious that it may be a son," he drivelled, "as there are so few male representatives of the old name now."
From Some Everyday Folk and Dawn by Franklin, Miles
“Yet you will say to His Majesty that I did suggest–yes, I do now–that they had better not––” His utterance drivelled to incoherency.
From The Missourian by Lyle, Eugene P. (Eugene Percy)
Half of Shakespeare's characters are less creations than caricatures: a fatuous Ajax, a vicious Achilles, a sniveling Thersites, a driveling Nestor.
From Time Magazine Archive
"I may be an old crone," grumped Princess Alice, "but I'm not driveling enough to have tea with a Teddy bear."
From Time Magazine Archive
And yet——" "Stop driveling," Tish said sharply, "and tie259 up this general or whatever he is.
From More Tish by Rinehart, Mary Roberts
He felt that he was giving up life and its every hope, but the fear of madness, or driveling idiocy, was worse than this.
From She Buildeth Her House by Comfort, William Wistar
Some driveling consumptive moralists—and poets especially—often call that thirst for life base.
From The Brothers Karamazov by Dostoyevsky, Fyodor
"What a froward, drivelling flibbergib have I taken to my bosom!"
From Time Magazine Archive
It was mere drivelling nonsense that I talked out there in the shell-hole.
From "All Quiet on the Western Front: A Novel" by Erich Maria Remarque
“Instead of drivelling away about knots and vacuum cleaners and lions, and making me miserable for weeks and weeks.”
From "Brave New World" by Aldous Huxley
“Compeyson spoke hardy, but he was always a coward. ‘Go up alonger this drivelling sick man,’ he says to his wife, ‘and Magwitch, lend her a hand, will you?’
From "Great Expectations" by Charles Dickens
"Why haven't I the pluck to take the plunge, instead of being the whining, drivelling idiot I am?" he cried.
From The Man Who Rose Again by Hocking, Joseph
Vocabulary lists containing drivel
There's No There There: Synonyms for "Empty"
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
"The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet," Vocabulary from Act 2
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
"The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet" by William Shakespeare, Act II
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
