fathoming

present participle of fathom
as in plumbing
to measure the depth of (as a body of water) typically with a weighted line the pilot had to continually fathom the river, which drought conditions had lowered to unprecedented levels

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of fathoming For starters, even though federal law requires hospitals to list their prices publicly, fathoming these files is almost impossible. — Rufina Chow, NBC news, 3 Apr. 2026 However, Chiefs veteran center Creed Humphrey says his team won't be listening to those, or even fathoming the thought of panicking. — Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 18 Nov. 2025 Advertisement Svetlana’s optimistic pretend normalcy and Lyudmila’s practical approach to medication point to impossibility of fathoming the many crushing consequences of the Ukraine crisis. — Nina Khrushcheva, Time, 3 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fathoming
Verb
  • There is no reading of the statute under which enforcing the Building Code includes plumbing a restaurant’s kitchen.
    — Fabiola Stuyvesant, Sun Sentinel, 6 Sep. 2026
  • Capital Engineering, a mechanical, electrical and plumbing engineering firm the district has worked with in the past, has been tapped to help assess the district’s losses and develop a plan for remedying the issue.
    — Sierra Lopez, Mercury News, 31 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • From leaders reacting to the death of a civil rights icon to a Northern California city scaling back police response, here’s a roundup of stories Sacramento-area readers should catch up on.
    — Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 28 Oct. 2026
  • The Field Partner Program began as a pilot in 2025 and is scaling with the 2026 crop, helping brands support regenerative agriculture goals with confidence.
    — SJ Studio, Footwear News, 27 Oct. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Fathoming.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fathoming. Accessed 31 Oct. 2026.

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