Synonyms of excavated

excavated

verb

past tense of excavate

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• dug
• shoveled
• dredged
• mined
• scooped
• burrowed
• quarried
• clawed
• grubbed
• delved
• dug in
• spaded

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• filled (in)
• smoothed (out or over)

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of excavated

In Turkey, archaeologists recently excavated an unexpectedly pristine example of one Bronze Age artist’s proof-of-authenticity. — Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 28 Oct. 2026

The structures have never been excavated before, researchers said, according to Jam Press. — Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 26 Oct. 2026

Once-barren lots have been excavated to lay foundations for apartments, roadways and restaurants. — Kansas City Star, 24 Oct. 2026

On September 26, search teams excavated the area around the sports field, but did not find the boy. — CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2026

When decades-old music or books are excavated and celebrated — lately a common occurrence amid the retromania of our culture industry — the artists are often long gone. — Jack Denton, Vulture, 22 Oct. 2026

The limestone sarcophagus was discovered in 1820 and officially excavated in 1869 from what is now a grassy strip along the north side of the abbey’s nave. — Tessa Solomon, ARTnews.com, 22 Oct. 2026

Crews excavated an 8-acre basin in the infield to serve as a holding pond, while contractors rebuilt the culverts under the track and reinforced the road leading into it. — Abe Streep, ProPublica, 21 Oct. 2026

The 50-ton boulder was found about 30 feet below the surface of the airfield while crews excavated the South Detention Basin, a stormwater management facility, as part of the ORDNext terminal expansion project. — Sara Tenenbaum, CBS News, 16 Oct. 2026