Dribblier

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. Having a greater tendency to let small drops or particles fall intermittently; exhibiting more frequent and less controlled droplet discharge; characterized by an increased amount of trickling or splattering
2. Showing more pronounced or excessive secretion or discharge of liquid in small streams or spots; indicating a condition where the flow is less steady and more scattered; describing a surface or object prone to slight liquid release over time
3. Displaying an enhanced capacity for tiny drops to fall or be emitted at intervals; representing a state of being more prone to gradual or irregular liquid loss; relating to something that is comparatively more prone to leaking or seeping in small quantities

Etymology: "Dribblier" is the comparative of "dribbly," so it is simply the form that means more dribbly: more prone to small, irregular trickles of liquid. The adjective it rests on is built from "dribble" plus the suffix "-y," which turns a noun or verb into a descriptive adjective, as in "bumpy" or "leafy." "Dribble" itself is the more interesting part. It comes from "drib," a word whose ancestors trace back to a Proto-Germanic base meaning something like a small quantity or drop, which in turn connects with the diminutive ending "-le" that gives the verb its sense of repeated, small-scale action. So the core idea is a tiny amount of liquid falling in little bits, and "dribblier" carries that idea into the comparative.

Synonyms: more dribbly, more drooly, more leaky, more slobbery, more watery

Antonyms: less dribbly, drier