EXCAVATE Synonyms: 14 Similar and Opposite Words

excavate

verb

ˈek-skə-ˌvāt

Definition of excavate

as in to dig

to hollow out or form (something) by removing earth workmen are excavating a long tunnel that will eventually replace the aboveground expressway

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Recent Examples of excavate John Henry, one of the most famous characters in American folklore, was in fact a Black man who died while part of a prison work gang excavating a railway tunnel in western Virginia in the early 1870s. — Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Oct. 2026 Adelaide wondered from which crevice Adrien had excavated this insolent creature. — Literary Hub, 13 Oct. 2026 Abric Romaní has been explored continuously since 1983, so the team has had time to develop a method for excavating objects that are essentially empty space. — Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 9 Oct. 2026 Next week, heavy equipment will be brought in to excavate the property. — Frederick Sutton Sinclair, CBS News, 7 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for excavate

Recent Examples of Synonyms for excavate

Verb

Roche is digging deeper into the biotech industry in China, striking a new partnership with a drug startup there.

— Allison DeAngelis, STAT, 8 Oct. 2026
Her mother dug her out from under debris and Sasha remained in a coma for 15 days.

— Matthew Carey, Deadline, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of dig

Verb

Renminbi’s place in global central-bank reserve coffers has actually fallen since 2022, despite Beijing shoveling its currency into developing economies through central-bank swap lines.

— Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 7 Oct. 2026
But earlier this year, the Navy reservist and his friend shoveled a six-carat diamond from a field in Arkansas where he's found over 300 gems so far.

— LAURA TURBAY, ABC News, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of shovel

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exasperations

excavate

excavated

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“Excavate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/excavate. Accessed 18 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of excavate

verb

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