DELVED Synonyms: 15 Similar and Opposite Words

delved

verb

past tense of delve

as in excavated

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Recent Examples of Synonyms for delved

Verb

In Turkey, archaeologists recently excavated an unexpectedly pristine example of one Bronze Age artist’s proof-of-authenticity.

— Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 28 Oct. 2026
The structures have never been excavated before, researchers said, according to Jam Press.

— Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of excavated

Verb

Galleries dug deep to participate in these events, collectively shelling out some £315 million ($419 million) in 2025.

— Brian Boucher, ARTnews.com, 28 Oct. 2026
That isn’t unusual for someone who draws and paints every day — but this latest dirt is real, dug from the ground in Yorkshire and Warwickshire, England, and used as the medium for her drawings of trees and landscapes.

— Samantha Conti, Footwear News, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of dug

Verb

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
Moments after an incredibly warm greeting, Quinn shoveled coal into the flames and stuck an iron in the forge.

— Sarah Wood González, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 Sep. 2026

Definition of shoveled

Verb

The new decade had begun with a deadly pandemic and racial justice movement, which had each morphed into dizzying culture wars mined by political actors seeking power.

— David Mack, CNN Money, 29 Oct. 2026
Because ground evacuation routes were heavily mined and subject to heavy Russian fire, sending in armored vehicles or conventional helicopters was deemed impossible.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of mined

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.

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delve

delved

delved (into)

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“Delved.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/delved. Accessed 3 Nov. 2026.

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Synonyms of delved

verb

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