as in dug
to hollow out or form (something) by removing earth
workmen are excavating a long tunnel that will eventually replace the aboveground expressway
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Recent Examples of excavated
Throughout the property, the singer incorporated the rocks that had been excavated while building the lake.
—
Katie Schultz, Architectural Digest, 16 Apr. 2026
The film centers on the lives of archaeologists Ann and Earl Morris (played by Abigail Lawrie and Tom Felton, respectively), who excavated the Canyon De Chelly in Arizona.
—Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 15 Apr. 2026
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
Once surrounded and isolated from vegetation, the pile was excavated.
—Logan Smith, CBS News, 11 Apr. 2026
The rays consist of material excavated from the Moon’s deep underground during an asteroid or comet impact.
—Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 9 Apr. 2026
Scientists from China and then the UK excavated approximately 700 fossils during multiple visits between 2022 and 2025.
—Mindy Weisberger, CNN Money, 4 Apr. 2026
Hawass noted the area has been extensively studied and excavated for decades without finding anything resembling a second monument.
—Ryan Brennan
april 1, Sacbee.com, 1 Apr. 2026
Katie Schultz, Architectural Digest, 16 Apr. 2026
The film centers on the lives of archaeologists Ann and Earl Morris (played by Abigail Lawrie and Tom Felton, respectively), who excavated the Canyon De Chelly in Arizona.
—Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 15 Apr. 2026
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
Once surrounded and isolated from vegetation, the pile was excavated.
—Logan Smith, CBS News, 11 Apr. 2026
The rays consist of material excavated from the Moon’s deep underground during an asteroid or comet impact.
—Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 9 Apr. 2026
Scientists from China and then the UK excavated approximately 700 fossils during multiple visits between 2022 and 2025.
—Mindy Weisberger, CNN Money, 4 Apr. 2026
Hawass noted the area has been extensively studied and excavated for decades without finding anything resembling a second monument.
—Ryan Brennan
april 1, Sacbee.com, 1 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for excavated
dug
Verb
-
To make restoration possible at Tidmarsh, over 20,000 native plant species were planted, several old dams removed and new waterways dug.—
ABC News,
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
Cite this Entry
“Excavated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/excavated. Accessed 22 Apr. 2026.
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