as in digging
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 excavating
The project, which was initially approved in 2001, involves clearing 65 acres of the landfill’s unused property and excavating 7 million cubic yards of dirt and rock to accommodate South Orange County’s waste disposal needs through 2102, extending the facility’s operating life by 50 years.
—
Claire Wang, Oc Register, 17 Apr. 2026
Stern has dedicated his career to excavating the emotional landmines and complex origin stories that shape the lyrics, the songs, the chart-topping hits that land singers and songwriters into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
—Malina Saval, Rolling Stone, 16 Apr. 2026
But, whatever her feelings for him as a parent, Elisa clearly devoted herself to excavating this episode in Bob’s life.
—Louis Menand, New Yorker, 13 Apr. 2026
Called Gangtie Jiliang, the machine is billed as the world’s first boring machine capable of excavating full-face shafts to depths exceeding 1,000 meters (3,280 feet) in hard rock, as per the report.
—Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 9 Apr. 2026
In excavating Pompeii, archaeologists discovered kilns full of unfired terra-cotta vases beneath mountains of ash.
—Abbey Stone, Bon Appetit Magazine, 9 Apr. 2026
Greenberg was excavating there around the same time CBS' Bob Simon visited in 1980.
—Seth Doane, CBS News, 5 Apr. 2026
Teamwork thrives when promises are specific, and as tough Saturn sextiles excavating Pluto, your friendship zone and your travel sector combine.
—Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 28 Mar. 2026
Where Fennell’s film departs from its source—reimagining rather than excavating—Powell’s novel goes the other direction, pushing deeper into Brontë’s life and work to find what might explain them.
—Literary Hub, 20 Mar. 2026
Claire Wang, Oc Register, 17 Apr. 2026
Stern has dedicated his career to excavating the emotional landmines and complex origin stories that shape the lyrics, the songs, the chart-topping hits that land singers and songwriters into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
—Malina Saval, Rolling Stone, 16 Apr. 2026
But, whatever her feelings for him as a parent, Elisa clearly devoted herself to excavating this episode in Bob’s life.
—Louis Menand, New Yorker, 13 Apr. 2026
Called Gangtie Jiliang, the machine is billed as the world’s first boring machine capable of excavating full-face shafts to depths exceeding 1,000 meters (3,280 feet) in hard rock, as per the report.
—Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 9 Apr. 2026
In excavating Pompeii, archaeologists discovered kilns full of unfired terra-cotta vases beneath mountains of ash.
—Abbey Stone, Bon Appetit Magazine, 9 Apr. 2026
Greenberg was excavating there around the same time CBS' Bob Simon visited in 1980.
—Seth Doane, CBS News, 5 Apr. 2026
Teamwork thrives when promises are specific, and as tough Saturn sextiles excavating Pluto, your friendship zone and your travel sector combine.
—Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 28 Mar. 2026
Where Fennell’s film departs from its source—reimagining rather than excavating—Powell’s novel goes the other direction, pushing deeper into Brontë’s life and work to find what might explain them.
—Literary Hub, 20 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for excavating
digging
Verb
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The montage captured the 8-year-old digging a hole in the sand, jumping in the water and swimming in a wetsuit, playing cricket and running on the beach.—
Brie Stimson , Stephanie Nolasco , Ashley Papa,
FOXNews.com,
23 Apr. 2026
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Residents have also found the crews digging under the town’s oak and pine trees that survived last year’s fire.—
Melody Petersen,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Excavating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/excavating. Accessed 28 Apr. 2026.
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