shoveling

variants or shovelling
present participle of shovel
as in digging
to hollow out or form (something) by removing earth the troops quickly shoveled a trench

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of shoveling With the work now being migration, most programs are still shoveling, counting tasks and missing the structure. Maman Ibrahim, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026 Spielberg didn’t film those terrifying closeups of the shark – like when Jaws pops up as Brody is shoveling the bloody chump slick in the water — until Day 92. Mike Fleming Jr, Deadline, 22 June 2026 On summer breaks from university, Gilmore also worked at the port, painting buildings, shoveling coal on a steamship and crewing on harbor boats. Bloomberg, Mercury News, 11 June 2026 On summer breaks from university, Gilmore also worked at the port, painting buildings, shoveling coal on a steamship and crewing on harbor boats. Bloomberg, Oc Register, 10 June 2026 This can include flattening the hill, raking or shoveling the mound, or even using a garden hose to flood the area. Cori Sears, The Spruce, 4 June 2026 In the medieval town of Belvì, men roast chestnuts—marroni—over an open fire in a frying pan the size of a swimming pool and then serve them to the crowd by shoveling them into troughs. IEEE Spectrum, 7 May 2026 Hart recovered a loose ball and started driving to the goal before shoveling a pass to Anunoby, who had gathered himself. Ian O'Connor, New York Times, 7 May 2026 Many of them include educational programs and things for kids to do, keeping them occupied if parents are shoveling compost. Charles Selle, Chicago Tribune, 6 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shoveling
Verb
  • Messi was trying to get a ball away from an Algerian player when he was seen digging his cleat into the back of the player’s calf.
    Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 2 July 2026
  • Masks are still prohibited during firefighters’ most grueling tasks — digging lines to stop fires and directly attacking flames.
    Noah Haggerty, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2026
Verb
  • The search began Monday, and involves investigators from the Hernando County Sheriff's Office, the FBI and the State Attorney's Office, who are excavating an area at Dry Creek Ranch after cadaver dogs alerted them during a recent search.
    Greg Wehner, FOXNews.com, 24 June 2026
  • The project plans to produce yellowcake using in-situ recovery technology, which circulates an oxygen- and water-based solution through underground ore bodies instead of excavating large open pits.
    Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 24 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Shoveling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shoveling. Accessed 4 Jul. 2026.

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