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
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Recent Examples of dug
Bring a headlamp to walk your bike through three 1870s railroad tunnels, each hand-dug by crews armed with little more than picks and shovels.
—
Erin Gifford, Outside, 30 Oct. 2025
New beds should be dug or loosened to a depth of 12 inches for varieties with larger bulbs.
—Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Oct. 2025
But the Senate needs a 60-vote majority of lawmakers to reopen the government, and Democrats have dug their heels in and are demanding the reinstatement of expiring Obamacare subsidies.
—Zach Halaschak, The Washington Examiner, 29 Oct. 2025
The pair dug a lot of the holes this program finds itself in right now, granted.
—Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 26 Oct. 2025
To stave off these injuries, IndyStar dug around and spoke with an expert at Purdue Extension about what Hoosiers can do to keep their plants safe and healthy.
—Karl Schneider, IndyStar, 23 Oct. 2025
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
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
Erin Gifford, Outside, 30 Oct. 2025
New beds should be dug or loosened to a depth of 12 inches for varieties with larger bulbs.
—Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Oct. 2025
But the Senate needs a 60-vote majority of lawmakers to reopen the government, and Democrats have dug their heels in and are demanding the reinstatement of expiring Obamacare subsidies.
—Zach Halaschak, The Washington Examiner, 29 Oct. 2025
The pair dug a lot of the holes this program finds itself in right now, granted.
—Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 26 Oct. 2025
To stave off these injuries, IndyStar dug around and spoke with an expert at Purdue Extension about what Hoosiers can do to keep their plants safe and healthy.
—Karl Schneider, IndyStar, 23 Oct. 2025
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dug
Verb
-
The team excavated several key places on the site, studied cores of soil and conducted an additional LiDAR, or Light Detection and Ranging, survey of the area.—
Katie Hunt,
CNN Money,
5 Nov. 2025
-
The Wondras were identified as suspects three years ago by Fruitland Police Chief JD Huff after law enforcement excavated their backyard, searching the area for human remains.—
Alex Brizee,
Idaho Statesman,
31 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The family drove across the lake into New Orleans, enjoyed dinner at a landmark restaurant and then met Justin’s oldest sister, Tara, at a sports bar.—
Alexandra Rockey Fleming,
PEOPLE,
11 Nov. 2025
-
The film enjoyed a 12-minute ovation in Venice and has since played at Toronto, San Sebastian and London among other festivals and soon hits the MENA circuit with a screening at the Red Sea Film Festival in December.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
10 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
The president worked with Gifford Pinchot—the US Forest Service’s first leader—on a publicity campaign in this realm, and came to appoint a commission in 1903 that held public hearings and investigations the president knew would grab headlines.—
JSTOR Daily,
JSTOR Daily,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Not the loss of titles, or the connections to Jeffrey Epstein, and of course, not how long the royal family knew about it without doing anything.—
Lizzie Lanuza,
StyleCaster,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Whoopi Goldberg, Emily Blunt and Natasha Lyonne were among the stars expressing their outrage, while Ryan Reynolds poked fun at Tilly in his new Mint Mobile ad.—
Diana Lodderhose,
Deadline,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Low branches poked at the roof of our boat and brushed our arms.—
Idra Novey,
Travel + Leisure,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Katya hadn’t liked his plan, Ryan said.—
Jamie Thompson,
The Atlantic,
6 Nov. 2025
-
Like me — a reluctant movie guy who never liked racing, and now somehow has three racecars.—
Chris Cardillo,
Rolling Stone,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
How gentle and precious to be understood.—
Julia Moore,
PEOPLE,
9 Nov. 2025
-
In handing down the sentence, Montenegro said Bonillo understood the scope of his misdeeds, abused his position of trust and used that position to enrich himself while undermining CBP’s main goal.—
Alex Riggins,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Investigators found the bodies nearby — Davis and Shelton had been shot, Friedt had been stabbed with a hunting knife whose blade broke off in her chest, and Flemmons died from asphyxiation after suffering blunt-force injuries, per A&E, citing Julie Young’s book The Burger Chef Murders in Indiana.—
Christina Coulter,
PEOPLE,
8 Nov. 2025
-
The ambassador stabbed Berry during the struggle, the Sheriff’s Office said.—
Daniel Lempres,
Sacbee.com,
8 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Kourtney, described as a loyal friend and straight-A student who loved basketball, attended the Ewing Marion Kauffman School, a Kansas City charter school.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
10 Nov. 2025
-
Caesar was never sure his parents loved him.—
David Denby,
New Yorker,
10 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dug.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dug. Accessed 28 Nov. 2025.
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