variants
also canvasing
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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in discussing
to talk about (an issue) usually from various points of view and for the purpose of arriving at a decision or opinion
canvassed all the items on the agenda
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of canvassing
Detectives were still canvassing the area for witnesses Thursday evening, Becchina said.
—
Caroline Zimmerman, Kansas City Star, 5 Mar. 2026
In multiple past municipal elections, the Supervisor of Elections has requested that Wellington designate the county canvassing board to canvass its elections, eliminating the need for Wellington to convene its own separate canvassing board.
—South Florida Sun Sentinel, Sun Sentinel, 3 Mar. 2026
By sunrise, the normally crowded stretch of West Sixth Street had been transformed into an expansive crime scene, with investigators collecting shell casings, canvassing nearby businesses for surveillance footage and interviewing patrons and witnesses who had fled the gunfire.
—Emiliano Tahui Gómez, Austin American Statesman, 2 Mar. 2026
Officers began canvassing the area the next day and went to the Walmart closest to the scene, where employees identified and provided them with a receipt that matched some of the items found at the scene, according to the affidavit.
—Alex Brizee, Idaho Statesman, 24 Feb. 2026
Sakai, who spent $196,000, did not report spending any money on canvassing.
—Saul Pink, San Antonio Express-News, 24 Feb. 2026
Detectives have been canvassing gun shops across the Tucson area, showing the doorbell video to see if anyone recognizes it.
—Luke Barr, ABC News, 20 Feb. 2026
The incident happened in Crofton as a volunteer for Councilman Pete Smith was canvassing in a neighborhood.
—Jt Moodee Lockman, CBS News, 19 Feb. 2026
Authorities are also canvassing gun shops, showing the video released by the FBI to see if anyone recognizes him, according to the sheriff’s department.
—Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 19 Feb. 2026
Caroline Zimmerman, Kansas City Star, 5 Mar. 2026
In multiple past municipal elections, the Supervisor of Elections has requested that Wellington designate the county canvassing board to canvass its elections, eliminating the need for Wellington to convene its own separate canvassing board.
—South Florida Sun Sentinel, Sun Sentinel, 3 Mar. 2026
By sunrise, the normally crowded stretch of West Sixth Street had been transformed into an expansive crime scene, with investigators collecting shell casings, canvassing nearby businesses for surveillance footage and interviewing patrons and witnesses who had fled the gunfire.
—Emiliano Tahui Gómez, Austin American Statesman, 2 Mar. 2026
Officers began canvassing the area the next day and went to the Walmart closest to the scene, where employees identified and provided them with a receipt that matched some of the items found at the scene, according to the affidavit.
—Alex Brizee, Idaho Statesman, 24 Feb. 2026
Sakai, who spent $196,000, did not report spending any money on canvassing.
—Saul Pink, San Antonio Express-News, 24 Feb. 2026
Detectives have been canvassing gun shops across the Tucson area, showing the doorbell video to see if anyone recognizes it.
—Luke Barr, ABC News, 20 Feb. 2026
The incident happened in Crofton as a volunteer for Councilman Pete Smith was canvassing in a neighborhood.
—Jt Moodee Lockman, CBS News, 19 Feb. 2026
Authorities are also canvassing gun shops, showing the video released by the FBI to see if anyone recognizes him, according to the sheriff’s department.
—Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 19 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for canvassing
Verb
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Ed has covered pop music for The Republic since 2007, reviewing festivals and concerts, interviewing legends, covering the local scene and more.—
Ed Masley,
AZCentral.com,
13 Mar. 2026
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Last year’s 12th Annual Oscar Special saw Turkington’s alter ego achieve a lifelong dream of interviewing Eric Roberts, only to waste the opportunity by spending the entire interview reading off running times of Roberts’ movies.—
Christian Zilko,
IndieWire,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
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When discussing the effect of Ireland on America--23 presidents were of Irish descent--it should be noted that America has also had an effect on Ireland.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
14 Mar. 2026
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Cycling journalist Ian Dille seems particularly snarky in addressing the Strickland/Armstrong relationship, smiling and laughing while discussing a situation that ended in murder.—
Daniel Fienberg,
HollywoodReporter,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Data center details Heavy construction machines began surveying and tilling the earth at 501 North Bly Road in November, much to the surprise of Bly Road residents, who say they weren’t warned by the city.—
Ilana Arougheti,
Kansas City Star,
6 Mar. 2026
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Days later and thousands of miles away, the Disney executives got an additional glimpse of what might be in store when surveying the scene at the international premiere of the Thanksgiving tentpole at Shanghai Disneyland, where a Zootopia-land attraction has become the driving force of attendance.—
Pamela McClintock,
HollywoodReporter,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
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To think that some Filipinos were forever debating her looks!—
Han Ong,
New Yorker,
15 Mar. 2026
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Instead of openly debating and learning from experts or one another, students often remain on the defensive.—
Gili Malinsky,
CNBC,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Staci Visser, an attorney for Robinson, told the judge before the ruling that the defense is not arguing in the court of public opinion.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
14 Mar. 2026
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Every Democrat in the Colorado General Assembly — both in the state senate and the state house — signed a letter to the governor arguing that sentence forgiveness should be reserved for people who take responsibility for their actions.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
13 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Canvassing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/canvassing. Accessed 16 Mar. 2026.
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