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drivel Definition

drivel (driv′əl)

intransitive verb -·eled or -·elled, -·el·ing or -·el·ling

  1. to let saliva flow from one's mouth; drool; slobber
  2. to speak in a silly or stupid manner

Etymology: ME drivelen < OE dreflian, to slobber, prob. akin to draff

transitive verb

to say in a silly or stupid manner

noun

  1. Now Rare saliva running from the mouth
  2. silly, stupid talk; childish nonsense; twaddle

drivel Related Forms
driv′·eler noun or driv′·el·ler
drivel Synonyms

drivel

n.

nonsense, twaddle, blather, foolishness; see nonsense 1.

drivel Synonyms

drivel

v.

  1. To drool

    slobber, drip, slaver; see drool 1.

  2. To ramble

    talk foolishly, prate, gabble; see babble, ramble 2.

drivel Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • spout: I is back, and ready to spout drivel like you've never SEEN.
  • talk: Then again, I could just be talking drivel.
  • write: Ron can't explain how Walter keeps logging in, and I can't stop him writing German drivel.
  • read: Bear in mind, as you sit, mindlessly reading this drivel, that there is life away from the computer screen.
  • watch: There is no way I'd waste time watching this drivel.
  • let: Does Patricia Cornwell need the money so badly that she is prepared to let this drivel out under her name?

Adjective modifier

  • inane: By the way, where did all that inane drivel about a " stakeholder society " go?
  • mindless: Enough of my mindless drivel, I'm outta here.
  • utter: The idea that Bin Laden would suffer in a prison is ridiculous - more utter drivel.
  • meaningless: Some are completely dominated by meaningless commercial drivel designed to exploit the darker side of human nature.
  • absolute: A good sense of humor is so much more important than trying to motivate people with absolute mindless drivel.
  • usual: There were a few speeches from the liberal left present, but it was the usual leftist drivel.

Modifies a noun

  • day: There is still the space for direct contact with voters - but its against a backdrop of media driven drivel day after day.

Modifying Another Word

  • boldly: Thursday 13 April 2006 Our continuing mission: to boldly drivel where no running publication has driveled before.
  • before: Thursday 13 April 2006 Our continuing mission: to boldly drivel where no running publication has driveled before.
  • much: Have we imported so much drivel from across the pond that there's nothing left in English hands?

Noun used with modifier

  • pop: Forget pop drivel or nu metal, Norah Jones ' arrival is helping to revive the music industry.
  • marketing: Many jounalists lap up this marketing drivel for want of something more interesting to write about.

Preposition: in

  • column: He wants more advice and less drivel in the column ( what's the difference you may well ask ).
drivel Quotes

   Each breeze from foggy mount and marshy plain Dilutes with drivel every drizzly brain, Till, burst at length, each wat'ry head o'er flows,

—Rochdale

Away with the music of Broadway! Be off with your Irving Berlin! Oh, I'd give no quarter to Kern or Cole Porter and Gershwin keeps pounding on tin. How can I be civil when hearing this drivel? It's only for night-clubbing souses. Oh, give me the free 'n'easy waltz that is Viennesey And go tell the band if they want a hand the waltz must be Strauss's!

—Gershwin, Ira originally Israel Gershowitz