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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Rollins was still searching and discovering while on tour into his 80s.—
Don Heckman,
Los Angeles Times,
26 May 2026
-
Sophia said the event was just as exciting and fun as last year for her and her son — who, while searching for planes in the sky, excitedly grabbed her face and reminded her that the watermelons and lemonade were just as amazing as the planes.—
Devoun Cetoute,
Miami Herald,
25 May 2026
Verb
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Both states have passed legislation requiring local law enforcement to cooperate with DHS, and in Florida, even Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officers are now scanning Flock cameras to assist ICE.—
Gaby Del Valle,
The Verge,
29 May 2026
-
The hamburger chain announced that on National Hamburger Day, Thursday, May 28, Whataburger Rewards members can order a medium order of fries and a medium drink, either online or by scanning the app in-store, and get a free Whataburger.—
Natassia Paloma,
USA Today,
28 May 2026
Verb
-
Recruitment staff are surveying several options with a view to signing at least two, possibly three, players in the knowledge that the centre of the team has long needed a significant rebuild.—
Laurie Whitwell,
New York Times,
21 May 2026
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One prompted stories of an old cowboy sitting alone on a porch, surveying a ghost town; another prompted stories about a sun rising over a meadow, where tiny creatures awakened and started to frolic.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
20 May 2026
Verb
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About 700 rescuers and nearly 200 police officers are combing the rubble, racing to reach survivors pinned beneath concrete and twisted steel.—
Jim Gomez,
Los Angeles Times,
24 May 2026
-
When her mother died in 2012, Hasbun inherited the gallery’s archives and began combing through them.—
Maximilíano Durón,
ARTnews.com,
22 May 2026
Verb
-
From intelligent fraud monitoring to keeping transactions (and cash) flowing, tools like these are finding fresh applications of AI that help sellers maintain an advantage in a competitive marketplace.—
Jason Phillips,
USA Today,
29 May 2026
-
In a sea of prestige actresses doing dramedy, Byrne is a true comedic talent, sporting incredible instincts for finding the funniest angle for Sylvia to take in her line readings or gestures.—
Joe Reid,
Vulture,
29 May 2026
Verb
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Just avoid raking clover seed after planting as this covers the seeds with too much soil and reduces germination rates.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
16 May 2026
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Its pointed corners fit into crevices for raking out hard-to-reach pet hair from the car’s interior, car mats or any other fabric surface.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
15 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dredging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dredging. Accessed 1 Jun. 2026.
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