drivel

[ driv-uhl ]

noun

1. saliva flowing from the mouth, or mucus from the nose; slaver.
2. childish, silly, or meaningless talk or thinking; nonsense; twaddle.

verb (used without object)

, driv·eled, driv·el·ing or (especially British) driv·elled, driv·el·ling.

1. to let saliva flow from the mouth or mucus from the nose; slaver.
2. to talk childishly or idiotically.
3. Archaic. to issue like spittle.

verb (used with object)

, driv·eled, driv·el·ing or (especially British) driv·elled, driv·el·ling.

1. to utter childishly or idiotically.
2. to waste foolishly.

drivel

/ ˈdrɪvəl /

verb

1. to allow (saliva) to flow from the mouth; dribble
2. intr to speak foolishly or childishly

noun

1. foolish or senseless talk
2. saliva flowing from the mouth; slaver

Derived Forms

• ˈdriveller, noun

Other Words From

• drivel·er especially British, drivel·ler noun
• drivel·ing·ly especially British, drivel·ling·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of drivel¹

before 1000; Middle English dryvelen, variant of drevelen, Old English dreflian; akin to draff

Word History and Origins

Origin of drivel¹

Old English dreflian to slaver; see draff

Example Sentences

Donald Trump’s rambling 90+ minute remarks at the Republican National Convention were widely panned as a train wreck of divisive rhetoric, anti-immigrant smears, and self-aggrandizing drivel.

From Salon

But at the other end of the scale, the Daily Express's one-star critique called it "absolute drivel" and described Holland as "a charisma free zone".

From BBC

Meanwhile, Musk has drifted right and become an enthusiastic booster of antisemitic and white replacement drivel.

From Slate

But some of the books I got were pure academic drivel, totally useless, that gave me no guidance or comfort.

From Los Angeles Times

Last week I was debating all this with a local Republican, a former state representative, when he deflected like this: “We are a representative republic, not a democracy. Trump is not a threat to either one. But we don’t need to dwell on that ridiculous assumption. That’s purely political drivel at this point.”

From Seattle Times

Related Words

• babble
• blather
• gibberish
• nonsense
• tripe