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
To make restoration possible at Tidmarsh, over 20,000 native plant species were planted, several old dams removed and new waterways dug.
—
ABC News, 15 Apr. 2026
The Clippers dug themselves out of an early hole and a modest late-season skid to reach the postseason as the ninth-seeded team will face off against the 10th-seeded Golden State Warriors in a Play-In Tournament game Wednesday night at the Intuit Dome.
—Janis Carr, Oc Register, 14 Apr. 2026
These are dug with a large ball of soil around the roots.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 13 Apr. 2026
To compile the rankings, Forbes staffers dug through the publication's stories of entrepreneurial capitalism, asked AI, and ran names past a panel of expert judges.
—Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 13 Apr. 2026
British plans for a canal system through the Lowcountry were ambitious, and New Cut was only one of dozens of hand-dug waterways.
—Literary Hub, 10 Apr. 2026
To stabilize the suspension system, tunnel anchors (deep chambers in the rock to secure the main cables) were dug about 310 feet (94 meters) deep for each bridge tower.
—Aman Kumar, Encyclopedia Britannica, 8 Apr. 2026
That special fastball dug him out of Tuesday night’s jam.
—Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2026
Still, the Nuggets dug a 13-point hole by the time Jokic returned.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 4 Apr. 2026
ABC News, 15 Apr. 2026
The Clippers dug themselves out of an early hole and a modest late-season skid to reach the postseason as the ninth-seeded team will face off against the 10th-seeded Golden State Warriors in a Play-In Tournament game Wednesday night at the Intuit Dome.
—Janis Carr, Oc Register, 14 Apr. 2026
These are dug with a large ball of soil around the roots.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 13 Apr. 2026
To compile the rankings, Forbes staffers dug through the publication's stories of entrepreneurial capitalism, asked AI, and ran names past a panel of expert judges.
—Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 13 Apr. 2026
British plans for a canal system through the Lowcountry were ambitious, and New Cut was only one of dozens of hand-dug waterways.
—Literary Hub, 10 Apr. 2026
To stabilize the suspension system, tunnel anchors (deep chambers in the rock to secure the main cables) were dug about 310 feet (94 meters) deep for each bridge tower.
—Aman Kumar, Encyclopedia Britannica, 8 Apr. 2026
That special fastball dug him out of Tuesday night’s jam.
—Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2026
Still, the Nuggets dug a 13-point hole by the time Jokic returned.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 4 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dug
Verb
-
When the three-level altar was excavated from the test pit, the project archaeologists discovered four human skulls abutting the monument, along with several long bones, which are believed to be femurs.—
Leigh Anne Miller,
ARTnews.com,
13 Apr. 2026
-
Pictures of the site show archaeologists working as sections of ground are carefully excavated into circular pits, with skeletons positioned inside.—
Andrea Margolis,
FOXNews.com,
11 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The talk was also enjoyed by non-Jewish residents of Eskaton such as Bert Donlon.—
Graham Womack,
Sacbee.com,
14 Apr. 2026
-
Survivors and teens from B’nai Torah’s Mirochnick Religious School enjoyed a special breakfast followed by a procession of the survivors, liberators and their descendants.—
Jessica Tzikas,
Sun Sentinel,
14 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
That email was immediately forwarded to Cameron Mason, Adidas’ senior director of basketball sports marketing and Gregg’s supervisor, even though the email — which Gregg thought was confidential — included Gregg’s belief that Mason knew about the NBA player’s presence in the trailer.—
Mike Wilson,
New York Times,
15 Apr. 2026
-
After both major conflicts, there were thousands of people who knew how to ride a motorcycle, which benefited Harley-Davidson during peacetime.—
Ricardo Torres,
USA Today,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Officers poked a hole in the bag and found the elder Ordonez's body.—
Annasofia Scheve,
San Antonio Express-News,
13 Apr. 2026
-
Back in February 2025, Duff poked fun at her daughter Mae, mixing some mischief in her Valentine's Day post.—
Kayla Grant,
PEOPLE,
13 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Husband never liked spouse’s family trip.—
Carolyn Hax,
Washington Post,
14 Apr. 2026
-
Broadly speaking, Sid left the business to Marty, who liked it and was good at it.—
Television Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Leo said in English, using a phrase often understood as referring to American exceptionalism.—
Nicole Winfield,
Los Angeles Times,
16 Apr. 2026
-
Its long-term health problems are only starting to be understood.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Daniel Montano, 21, was stabbed during a chaotic early morning brawl Easter Sunday, according to Wilmington police.—
Sarah Rumpf-Whitten,
FOXNews.com,
15 Apr. 2026
-
Carl Reed was sentenced to 27 years in prison in 2005 for the killing of 66-year-old Kim Van Vo, who had been stabbed 11 times in his apartment at an assisted living facility.—
Sabrina Franza,
CBS News,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
So the fact that people have loved it and people are still watching is really wonderful.—
James Mercadante,
Entertainment Weekly,
11 Apr. 2026
-
Known and loved for both its fashion and food offerings, Selfridges is a full-service department store in the heart of London.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
11 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dug.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dug. Accessed 20 Apr. 2026.
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