drivel

1 of 2

noun

1
: nonsense
Don't waste your time reading such drivel.
2
archaic : drool sense 1

drivel

2 of 2

verb

driv·​el ˈdri-vəl How to pronounce drivel (audio)
driveled or drivelled; driveling or drivelling ˈdri-v(ə-)liŋ How to pronounce drivel (audio)

intransitive verb

1
: to talk stupidly and carelessly
What is he driveling about now?
2
: to let saliva dribble from the mouth : slaver
driveler noun

Examples of drivel in a Sentence

Noun that critic's reviews are nothing but self-important drivel my roommate talks in her sleep, but it's just drivel Verb What is he driveling about now? the panting dog driveled on my hand
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Works like that one tend to be seen as religious experiences or spiritualist drivel. Alex Greenberger, ARTnews.com, 3 Sep. 2019 Not even Dunst could elevate this slapdash slice of man-child drivel. 33. Matthew Jacobs, Vulture, 12 Apr. 2024
Verb
Our campuses are a mess — citadels of conformism and drivel. Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 19 Dec. 2023 Gretchen Bender superimposes potent phrases or ideas onto television screens blaring out the usual stream of nonsense, drivel and enticement. Philip Kennicott, Washington Post, 6 Apr. 2023 See all Example Sentences for drivel 

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

Word History

Etymology

Verb and Noun

Middle English, from Old English dreflian; perhaps akin to Old Norse draf malt dregs

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of drivel was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near drivel

Cite this Entry

“Drivel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/drivel. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

drivel

1 of 2 verb
driv·​el ˈdriv-əl How to pronounce drivel (audio)
driveled or drivelled; driveling or drivelling -(ə-)liŋ How to pronounce drivel (audio)
1
: to let saliva dribble from the mouth : slobber
2
: to talk stupidly
driveler noun
or driveller
-(ə-)lər

drivel

2 of 2 noun

More from Merriam-Webster on drivel

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!