drivel
drivel
Pronunciation
Here's the IPA phonetic spelling of "drivel" broken down by syllables:
drivəl (dɹɪv.əl)
dɹɪ (dri)
dɹ (dri): voiced alveolar trill consonant
ɪ (i): near-close near-front unrounded vowel
əl (vel)
ə (e): central vowel (schwa)
l (l): alveolar lateral approximant consonant
Word Form Variations
"Drivel" has a few variations depending on its part of speech:
Noun:
Singular: drivel
Plural: drivels (This is less common, and most often "drivel" functions as a mass noun that doesn't need a plural form.)
Verb (less common):
Present tense (singular and plural): drivels (This usage is not very frequent)
Past tense (singular and plural): driveled/drivelled (Both driveled and drivelled are acceptable in different regions)
Present participle: driveling/drivelling (Similar to past tense)
Past participle: driveled/drivelled (Similar to past tense)
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Definitions, Synonyms, Antonyms
Noun:
Definition: Foolish, pointless, or meaningless talk or writing.
Synonyms: Nonsense, twaddle, gibberish, balderdash, rubbish, garbage (informal)
Antonyms: Sense, substance, meaning, intelligence, wisdom
Verb (less common):
Definition: To speak foolishly or meaninglessly.
Synonyms: Babble, ramble, prattle, blather (informal)
Antonyms: Speak articulately, make sense, discourse intelligently
Examples of Use
Books:
"He ignored their drivel and continued his trek through the forest." (Fantasy novel)
Newspapers:
"The politician's speech was full of drivel about bringing back jobs, but offered no real solutions." (Newspaper editorial)
Online Publications:
"Commenters were quick to dismiss the article as a piece of drivel designed to stir controversy." (Online news platform)
Entertainment:
Movie: In a comedic scene, the character launches into a long-winded explanation that is clearly nonsense, prompting another character to mutter, "Here we go with the drivel again..."
TV Show: A reality TV star becomes infamous for their constant stream of nonsensical drivel during interviews.
Public Discourse:
Social Media: "Ugh, can't believe the amount of drivel people post on social media these days!" (Informal social media post)
Political Rally: The crowd erupted in boos as the speaker droned on with empty promises and political drivel.
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10 Famous Quotes Using the term Drivel
While "drivel" is a great word to describe nonsense, it's not very common in formal, famous quotes. Here are ten quotes that capture a similar sentiment using different words:
"The problem with the world is that intelligent people are full of doubts, while the stupid people are full of confidence." - Charles Bukowski (Uses "stupid" to imply lack of sense)
"Ideas are the beginning of everything. They are more important than machines." - Alfred North Whitehead (Highlights ideas over empty talk)
"A little inaccuracy sometimes saves tons of explanation." - Mark Twain (Points out the value of clarity over rambling)
"Empty vessels make the most noise." - Chinese Proverb (Uses "noise" to suggest meaninglessness)
"Silence is the true friend that never betrays." - Confucius (Values silence over pointless words)
"Be less curious about people and more curious about ideas." - Marie Curie (Encourages focus on substance)
"One fool can ask more questions in an hour than a wise man can answer in a lifetime." - Proverb (Highlights the difference between insightful and nonsensical questions)
"It is better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak and remove all doubt." - Abraham Lincoln (Values thoughtful speech over impulsive talking)
"The mind is everything. What you think you become." - Buddha (Focuses on the power of meaningful thoughts)
"Clutter creates a mind that is full of noise and unable to hear the whispers of intuition." - Deepak Chopra (Emphasizes clarity for deeper understanding)
Etymology
The word "drivel" is like a fancy way of saying something is useless, kind of like leftovers at the bottom of the glass. Here's the story:
Way back in the Old English days (before 1150!), people used the word "dreflian" which meant to drool or slobber. It likely came from an even older Germanic word that described something cloudy or murky.
Over time, the word transformed into "drivelen" in Middle English. This meaning stuck around for a while, referring to both the flow of saliva and foolish talk.
Fast forward to today, and "drivel" mostly refers to nonsense or meaningless words. It's like the useless leftover bits of a conversation that don't add anything valuable.
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Phrases + Idioms Containing the term Drivel
Here are some phrases and idioms using the word "drivel":
Spouting drivel: This means talking nonsense or meaningless things. (e.g., "He was always spouting drivel about aliens living on the moon.")
A load of drivel: This is a phrase used to describe a large amount of nonsense. (e.g., "Don't listen to that, it's just a load of drivel.")
Full of drivel: This describes something, like a speech or article, that is filled with nonsense. (e.g., "The movie trailer was full of drivel and special effects.")
Don't give me that drivel: This is a dismissive way of telling someone you don't believe their excuses or nonsense. (e.g., "Don't give me that drivel about being sick, you just don't want to go to school!")
Wasting my time with drivel: This expresses frustration with someone who is talking nonsense or not making sense. (e.g., "I'm wasting my time with this drivel, let's get down to business.")
Stow the drivel: This is a more informal way of telling someone to stop talking nonsense. (e.g., "Stow the drivel and tell me what really happened.")
A driveling fool: This is a harsh insult for someone who talks nonsense or is foolish. (Note: This is quite strong language.)
Posts Related to Drivel
Source Information
Definition of drivel from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
