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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in enjoyed
to take pleasure in
I really dig bluegrass music
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in knew
to have a clear idea of
can you dig what I'm saying?
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Hungary is one of Putin’s few allies in the West, and its Prime Minister, Viktor Orbán, has repeatedly dug his heels in on Western efforts to punish Russia for its invasion of Ukraine.
—
Luke McGee, Time, 21 Oct. 2025
From November 2023 to October 2024, volunteers cleared sagebrush, dug post holes and poured concrete, enduring intense heat, strong winds and relentless dust.
—Susan H. Kamei, The Conversation, 17 Oct. 2025
In a frantic but delicate rescue, captured on images and video reviewed by CNN, a policeman dug away the packed earth.
—Aishwarya S. Iyer, CNN Money, 16 Oct. 2025
Granted, by going 4-19, Callahan dug his own grave deep enough to be thrown in and buried.
—Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 16 Oct. 2025
In trying to clarify his point, however, Kennedy dug himself a deeper hole.
—Michael Hiltzik, Twin Cities, 16 Oct. 2025
Things aren’t about to get easier, and the Sabres have already dug themselves a hole.
—Matthew Fairburn, New York Times, 12 Oct. 2025
Why DigIndy was dug DigIndy’s origin story begins around 2005 when the City of Indianapolis agreed to improve its combined sewer overflow system.
—Karl Schneider, IndyStar, 9 Oct. 2025
Gabriel dug deep to keep the Browns in the game.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 5 Oct. 2025
Luke McGee, Time, 21 Oct. 2025
From November 2023 to October 2024, volunteers cleared sagebrush, dug post holes and poured concrete, enduring intense heat, strong winds and relentless dust.
—Susan H. Kamei, The Conversation, 17 Oct. 2025
In a frantic but delicate rescue, captured on images and video reviewed by CNN, a policeman dug away the packed earth.
—Aishwarya S. Iyer, CNN Money, 16 Oct. 2025
Granted, by going 4-19, Callahan dug his own grave deep enough to be thrown in and buried.
—Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 16 Oct. 2025
In trying to clarify his point, however, Kennedy dug himself a deeper hole.
—Michael Hiltzik, Twin Cities, 16 Oct. 2025
Things aren’t about to get easier, and the Sabres have already dug themselves a hole.
—Matthew Fairburn, New York Times, 12 Oct. 2025
Why DigIndy was dug DigIndy’s origin story begins around 2005 when the City of Indianapolis agreed to improve its combined sewer overflow system.
—Karl Schneider, IndyStar, 9 Oct. 2025
Gabriel dug deep to keep the Browns in the game.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 5 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dug
Verb
-
The partial skeleton was excavated from Koobi Fora in Kenya.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
16 Oct. 2025
-
When an unknown person filled in the hole last year, Good Samaritans immediately excavated it.—
Mason Leath,
ABC News,
15 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Lili Reinhart, Madelaine Petsch, and KJ Apa enjoyed a mini Riverdale reunion at their former costar Camila Mendes' surprise engagement party over the weekend.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
29 Oct. 2025
-
The slightly older cohort of Gen Zers enjoyed thousands more open roles and half the competition that their peers face today.—
Emma Burleigh,
Fortune,
28 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Steve Coppell knew how to manage people, play the right tactics and give us the freedom to express ourselves.—
Matt Woosnam,
New York Times,
25 Oct. 2025
-
But [director] Amy Heckerling knew what the goal was, and adults existed only as teachers in that movie.—
Mia Galuppo,
HollywoodReporter,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Aeration is the process of creating air spaces in a lawn, usually via 3-inch holes poked into the soil at regular intervals.—
Megan Hughes,
Better Homes & Gardens,
22 Oct. 2025
-
Several poked fun at the moment through lighthearted comments, while others expressed how their own canines also like to fill their days with an abundance of naps.—
Melissa Fleur Afshar,
MSNBC Newsweek,
22 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The post has been liked more than 46,000 times in less than 24 hours, sparking a flurry of emotional comments in the process.—
Melissa Fleur Afshar,
MSNBC Newsweek,
22 Oct. 2025
-
And then he's liked it all along.—
Kayla Grant,
PEOPLE,
22 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Each storm sparked a wave of scientific inquiry, until, in the early twentieth century, scientists finally understood why electrifying societies had grown precariously vulnerable to environmental upheavals on the Sun.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
27 Oct. 2025
-
In moments of crisis, children (and adults) need to feel seen, heard and understood.—
Dr. Theresa T. Nguyen,
Boston Herald,
26 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Like the other eight couples who were killed, they were found shot and stabbed in their cars.—
Emily Blackwood,
PEOPLE,
25 Oct. 2025
-
As president of the United States, he was stabbed in the heart with a letter opener by a septuagenarian cuckold.—
Joy Williams,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Lots of boys wanted to be like him, to be accepted, given attention, admired and loved by teachers, but the rest of us were looked down upon.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Oct. 2025
-
The 6-year-old Siberian husky was described as a very high-energy dog who loved stuffed animals and swimming.—
Lydia Patrick,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dug.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dug. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share