as in searching
to look through (as a place) carefully or thoroughly in an effort to find or discover something
I've been dredging my memory bank, and I simply can't remember her name
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Recent Examples of dredging
The agency is now encouraging ports to pay for the initial step in a process that includes studying, obtaining permits and dredging trade waterways.
—
Adam Van Brimmer, AJC.com, 19 May 2026
Pound the chicken cutlets lightly to an even thickness before dredging to ensure uniform cooking and prevent dry edges.
—Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 5 Mar. 2026
One of the reasons cited is the need for dredging the marina entrance to Lake Michigan.
—Charles Selle, Chicago Tribune, 9 Feb. 2026
In the legend, Yu, a heroic figure, saved Chinese civilization from decades of devastating floods by dredging rivers and waterways.
—Literary Hub, 15 Dec. 2025
Pickleball courts, golf course to remain open Plans for the project include dredging the lake, repairing the concrete and foundation at the dam, and replacing a culvert near Flatwoods Road Cove with a bridge.
—Jolene Almendarez, Cincinnati Enquirer, 25 Sep. 2025
The project would extend Osceola's slack-water harbor by 3,000 feet by dredging out 620,000 cubic yards of material.
—Arkansas Online, 18 Sep. 2025
The fact that Ryan Murphy’s American Love Story is shooting in the neighborhood is dredging everything back up again.
—Nate Jones, Vulture, 5 Sep. 2025
The changes a deepwater port could bring The Army Corps of Engineers this month issued a $400 million contract to begin the first phase of the port project, which will ultimately include dredging sediment from the ocean so bigger ships can dock.
—Trevor Hughes, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2025
Adam Van Brimmer, AJC.com, 19 May 2026
Pound the chicken cutlets lightly to an even thickness before dredging to ensure uniform cooking and prevent dry edges.
—Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 5 Mar. 2026
One of the reasons cited is the need for dredging the marina entrance to Lake Michigan.
—Charles Selle, Chicago Tribune, 9 Feb. 2026
In the legend, Yu, a heroic figure, saved Chinese civilization from decades of devastating floods by dredging rivers and waterways.
—Literary Hub, 15 Dec. 2025
Pickleball courts, golf course to remain open Plans for the project include dredging the lake, repairing the concrete and foundation at the dam, and replacing a culvert near Flatwoods Road Cove with a bridge.
—Jolene Almendarez, Cincinnati Enquirer, 25 Sep. 2025
The project would extend Osceola's slack-water harbor by 3,000 feet by dredging out 620,000 cubic yards of material.
—Arkansas Online, 18 Sep. 2025
The fact that Ryan Murphy’s American Love Story is shooting in the neighborhood is dredging everything back up again.
—Nate Jones, Vulture, 5 Sep. 2025
The changes a deepwater port could bring The Army Corps of Engineers this month issued a $400 million contract to begin the first phase of the port project, which will ultimately include dredging sediment from the ocean so bigger ships can dock.
—Trevor Hughes, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dredging
Verb
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Rescue teams began searching for the daredevil and found his body about three feet below the crater's water surface after rescue efforts that lasted about four and a half hours.—
Adam England,
PEOPLE,
15 June 2026
-
Across the country, workers who once expected to rely entirely on traditional employment are now searching for something more stable, flexible, and lasting.—
Malana VanTyler,
USA Today,
15 June 2026
Verb
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This is the cohort that grew up skipping lines, scanning QR codes, ordering from phones and treating friction as a brand failure.—
Gabriel Alin Zainescu,
Forbes.com,
20 June 2026
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Those scanning the skies over the East River this summer may spot something unfamiliar — a cargo drone schlepping packages between the Downtown Skyport in lower Manhattan and the Brooklyn Marine Terminal just south of Brooklyn Bridge Park.—
Anne Kadet,
Curbed,
19 June 2026
Verb
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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
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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
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The hundreds of ground squirrels, which typically spend their time combing the grass for crumbs and approaching visitors in search of a treat, are native to the area.—
Nicole Comstock,
CBS News,
9 June 2026
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Instead of combing through dozens of forecasts, users see clear guidance that matches the dates, cities, and timing of their own trip.—
Gretchen Wittenmyer-Stone,
Miami Herald,
9 June 2026
Verb
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Another problem is the difficulty older Americans have in finding new jobs.—
Daniel de Visé,
USA Today,
20 June 2026
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In the 10th minute, Neil El Aynaoui pilfered the ball from Ryan Christie, then nearly capitalized on the ensuing counterattack, finding free space in front of an open net but overrunning Azzedine Ounahi’s cross.—
Zack Cox,
Boston Herald,
20 June 2026
Verb
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How To Clean Cotton/Jersey Gardening Gloves Cotton makes a good all-purpose glove for raking leaves and tidying your yard.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
8 June 2026
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Then comes raking the clippings, bagging them up, and hauling them to the garbage.—
Rachel Silva,
Martha Stewart,
7 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dredging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dredging. Accessed 21 Jun. 2026.
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