shoveled

variants or shovelled
past tense of shovel
as in dug
to hollow out or form (something) by removing earth the troops quickly shoveled a trench

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 shoveled Quasars are the extremely active supermassive black holes at the heart of some galaxies, furiously feeding on gas that is being shoveled towards their maw, and growing as a result of this voracious feeding. Keith Cooper, Space.com, 12 June 2026 All that was left of the snow was shoveled into melting mounds at the edges of intersections and crosswalks. Jourdan Rodrigue, New York Times, 28 May 2026 Nothing reminded me of that as much as when Kimi and Myka, after doing runway walks in their hairnets and drab white protective garments, shoveled the graves of whey out of a slurry and pitched them into a giant bin. Brian Moylan, Vulture, 24 Apr. 2026 During construction, Black men shoveled mud through malarial swamps, while battling snakes and alligators in intense heat. Literary Hub, 10 Apr. 2026 In total, the crews shoveled out about 90 tons of debris – roughly the weight of 18 elephants. Caitlin Looby, jsonline.com, 25 Mar. 2026 When Harrill last saw him in January, Klinner had shoveled Harrill’s vehicle out of the snow during a family wedding. David A. Lieb, Los Angeles Times, 15 Mar. 2026 When Harrill last saw him in January, Klinner had shoveled Harrill’s vehicle out of the snow during a family wedding. David A. Lieb, Fortune, 14 Mar. 2026 And as an East Coaster who shoveled two feet of snow from my driveway this week, my mental health requires me to look ahead. Kasey Caminiti, USA Today, 24 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shoveled
Verb
  • Each of the nine San Diego batters got his chance against Sasaki in the second, and the team quickly dug the Dodgers into a six-run hole.
    Liana Handler Follow, Los Angeles Times, 3 July 2026
  • Allin responds by saying that if that's what Knight wants, he's dug his own grave.
    Rob Wolkenbrod, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
Verb
  • City is made from clay, sand, and rock, all excavated from the innards of the site and reshaped.
    Lara Johnson-Wheeler, Vogue, 3 July 2026
  • Steam shovels and draglines excavated the foundations for highways and railroads.
    Malika Bowling, USA Today, 3 July 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Shoveled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shoveled. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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