dug

past tense of dig
1
as in excavated
to hollow out or form (something) by removing earth a backhoe dug a hole in the backyard to make a swimming pool

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
3
4
as in poked
to urge or push forward with or as if with a pointed object every time I slowed down, he'd dig me in the ribs

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 dug Caught in a toughness-testing Sunday afternoon brawl with the Raiders, the Bears dug deep and showed the resilience and survival instincts to claw out a win. Dan Wiederer, New York Times, 29 Sep. 2025 When social media users called the wig unflattering, the insults dug deep. Lea Veloso, StyleCaster, 27 Sep. 2025 Much like in Tuesday’s series opener the Blue Jays had several opportunities to take control early, but Bello dug deep and kept Toronto off the board. Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 26 Sep. 2025 The boulders must have kept tumbling downstream because 500 years later, a Middle Kingdom Pharaoh (Senusret III/Khakaura) dug a new trench. Vanessa Taylor, Big Think, 25 Sep. 2025 In between those buildings, foundations are being dug right now. Christopher Bonanos, Curbed, 24 Sep. 2025 Cut up, the plant matter can be added to the compost bin or dug it into the soil. Miranda Crowell, Better Homes & Gardens, 24 Sep. 2025 For the past five years, Wineburg has worked with alongside vineyard manager Martin Galvan and consultants Pedro Parra and Brenna Quigley, who dug soil pits to better understand what was going on underground. Mike Desimone, Robb Report, 21 Sep. 2025 But exactly how deep of a hole have the Chiefs dug? Kansas City Star, 18 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dug
Verb
  • His aristocratic tastes are reflected in his various building projects, the remains of which have been excavated.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 30 Sep. 2025
  • Forgotten under sixty-five feet of pumice and ash, Herculaneum wasn’t rediscovered until the eighteenth century, and the original Villa dei Papiri has still not been fully excavated.
    Dana Goodyear, New Yorker, 22 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • An engaging, fun-loving character, across several stints playing county cricket with Somerset, Renshaw enjoyed life as a commentator and public address announcer.
    Sam Dalling, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2025
  • Both of these fruits can be enjoyed as a simple snack or paired with other nutritious foods to create healthy meals.
    Jillian Kubala, Health, 7 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Then one day, the teacher asked if anyone knew about the Holocaust.
    Romina Ruiz-Goiriena, USA Today, 4 Oct. 2025
  • The parents of Krysta Tsukahara allege that the company that helped Elon Musk become the world’s richest man knew about the flaw for years and could have moved fast to fix the problem but did not, leaving the 19-year-old arts student trapped amid flames and smoke that eventually killed her.
    Dave Smith, Fortune, 3 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Because tiny holes are poked into the soil surface, more nutrients can reach greater soil depths.
    Lauren David, Southern Living, 3 Oct. 2025
  • In a 2019 post celebrating his third wedding anniversary with Miles, Minoso poked fun at his character’s romantic shortcomings.
    Emily Blackwood, PEOPLE, 1 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Some said their parents liked the schools or moved for a job.
    John Wisely, Freep.com, 3 Oct. 2025
  • The team liked using its starter and sole All-Star, Cade Cunningham, alongside another playmaker.
    Fred Katz, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Laughter from the crowd breaks the tension of what could have been understood as metaphor for Netanyahu’s actions.
    Romina Ruiz-Goiriena, USA Today, 4 Oct. 2025
  • Jane Goodall and her friend saw strangers in a jungle, reached out their hands, and began a friendship that changed how humans understood our place in the world.
    Scott Simon, NPR, 4 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Mark Sanchez was stabbed in an incident in downtown Indianapolis early Saturday morning, according to the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, and he was later arrested on Saturday evening for his role in the incident.
    Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 Oct. 2025
  • Fox Sports analyst Mark Sanchez has been hospitalized after he was reportedly stabbed on Friday night in Indianapolis.
    Glenn Garner, Deadline, 4 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The former first lady loved her pearl jewelry, and regularly paired the pieces with Chanel suits, shift dresses and evening gowns.
    Samantha Conti, Footwear News, 6 Oct. 2025
  • For anyone who’s loved the brand’s beds, this pillow offers a more compact (but no less luxurious) way to bring Tempur-Pedic’s signature comfort into your nightly routine.
    Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 6 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Dug.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dug. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.

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