canvassing

variants also canvasing
present participle of canvass
1
as in interviewing
to go around and approach (people) with a request for opinions or information we canvassed people all over town, asking if they would be interested in participating in a recycling program

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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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 canvassing Police used drones to search the woods to no avail on Friday, and officers were back canvassing the area on Monday. Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 15 June 2026 The students in the StepS2Change group have become activists, organizing protests and canvassing neighborhoods during election campaigns. Veronica Ortega, CBS News, 4 June 2026 At about the time Cofer was wrapping up in the Fruitridge area, Guerra was canvassing in East Sacramento. Theresa Clift, Sacbee.com, 3 June 2026 Once the fire was contained, Russ said, fire crews put a drone in the air to start canvassing the area for rescue operations. Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 May 2026 According to a league source, Boston’s front office has been making calls and canvasing the league to see what might be available. Jen McCaffrey, New York Times, 23 May 2026 That soup-to-nuts focus extends to the soft yet structured canvassing Genuardi utilizes, which is made in-house. Eric Twardzik, Robb Report, 20 May 2026 The founder of AdHoc Group Against Crime was there in the days following the child’s death, searching the neighborhood for clues and canvassing the area for potential witnesses. Caroline Zimmerman may 18, Kansas City Star, 18 May 2026 After canvassing the area, deputies distributed a BOLO with Jansen’s description to law-enforcement units nearby. Milena Malaver, Miami Herald, 16 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for canvassing
Verb
  • Two of them are quietly interviewing elsewhere.
    Vibhas Ratanjee, Forbes.com, 11 June 2026
  • Each episode features Rahma interviewing and playing games with Toyota drivers like Bubba Wallace, Christopher Bell, Jade Avedisian, and Chase Briscoe.
    Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 10 June 2026
Verb
  • Pimentel argued the school failed to intervene despite students openly discussing the security guard's behavior.
    Peter D'Oench, CBS News, 12 June 2026
  • The scene of the two boys discussing Kayda is kind of funny, especially the number of times Zach laughs and encourages Bryce to go for it.
    Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 12 June 2026
Verb
  • As residents of parts of these states were recovering and surveying the damage from a destructive derecho that swept through Wednesday night with up to 80 mph winds, they were hit again less than 24 hours later with another round of severe thunderstorms and tornadoes.
    Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 15 June 2026
  • Authorities were surveying the damage Friday and preparing to issue emergency declarations needed to get recovery funding.
    DAVE COLLINS, Arkansas Online, 13 June 2026
Verb
  • Muscle loss has been another persistent concern, with researchers debating how much of the weight lost on GLP-1 drugs is fat versus lean mass.
    Allison Palmer Updated June 13, Miami Herald, 13 June 2026
  • But people have been debating for years whether Spielberg really was the one calling the shots on the set.
    Chris Nashawaty, Entertainment Weekly, 13 June 2026
Verb
  • According to charging documents, the two men began arguing before Harmon allegedly retrieved a tire iron from his vehicle and struck the victim three times in the head.
    Caroline Foreback, CBS News, 13 June 2026
  • Musk has proven the power of his RDF before – with one analysis arguing Tesla’s stock market capitalization would be $500 billion lower without Musk at the helm.
    Peter Cohan, Forbes.com, 12 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Canvassing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/canvassing. Accessed 17 Jun. 2026.

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