as in digs
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 excavates
Oh Whale excavates Oregon’s infamous 1970 exploding-whale incident through the eyes of journalist Paul Linnman, who broke the story at age 23 and has been answering questions about it ever since.
—
Peter White,
Deadline,
19 June 2026
Her series are inevitably female-centric and like the Brontës, who wrote 200 years and a few miles away, her work excavates the drama of daily life and the tension between good and evil that sings below any surface.
—
Culture Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
14 May 2026
Hale traverses mountain trails, excavates court records, and reflects on his family’s roots in the region to examine the unexpected connections between the two events.
—
The New Yorker,
New Yorker,
13 Apr. 2026
As Polly excavates the darkest parts of herself, the film can’t string together a build to match the depths of her soul-searching.
—
J. Kim Murphy,
Variety,
11 Oct. 2025
Peter White,
Deadline,
19 June 2026
Her series are inevitably female-centric and like the Brontës, who wrote 200 years and a few miles away, her work excavates the drama of daily life and the tension between good and evil that sings below any surface.
—
Culture Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
14 May 2026
Hale traverses mountain trails, excavates court records, and reflects on his family’s roots in the region to examine the unexpected connections between the two events.
—
The New Yorker,
New Yorker,
13 Apr. 2026
As Polly excavates the darkest parts of herself, the film can’t string together a build to match the depths of her soul-searching.
—
J. Kim Murphy,
Variety,
11 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for excavates
digs
Verb
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In his review, our expert Andrew Gebhart said the Dyson Vis Nav’s stiff nylon bristles digs deep into carpets or hard surfaces alike, sucking up any mess.
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Support journalism that digs deeper into topics that matter most to Arkansans.
Cite this Entry
“Excavates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/excavates. Accessed 28 Jun. 2026.
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