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

The impact excavated pristine materials from below the lunar surface that have escaped weathering from the solar wind, galactic cosmic rays, and micrometeorites. — Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 21 Aug. 2026

Assistant Town Engineer Matt Gavelek said that the problems were created because, contrary to the town’s instructions, a large area of land was excavated. — Jim Woods, Chicago Tribune, 19 Aug. 2026

The brighter streaks near the crater rim were formed by fresher material excavated from deeper underground after the booster smacked into the moon’s surface. — Denise Chow, NBC news, 18 Aug. 2026

Tel Abu Saify was first excavated decades ago, and includes ancient military structures, dockyards, mud brick enclosures, and a temple. — Leigh Anne Miller, ARTnews.com, 17 Aug. 2026

Two of those casualties appear to be soldiers excavated from sediment beneath the motorcycle. — Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 13 Aug. 2026

Archaeologist Alfred Lucas, who was part of Howard Carter’s team which excavated the tomb and present at the time, was reportedly hospitalized from the shock of it. — Sheena McKenzie, CNN Money, 10 Aug. 2026

An international team of researchers in July excavated a church complex in the ancient city of Nicaea, now within the modern town of İznik, according to Turkish state media outlet Anadolu Agency (AA). — Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 10 Aug. 2026

Now Kennedy took her suppositions even further, reexamining the literature on a famous Olmec site where thousands of toad skeletons had been excavated. — Kimon De Greef, Longreads, 4 Aug. 2026