1
as in finding
to come upon after searching, study, or effort
at the last minute she rummaged a costume from the attic
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in searching
to look through (as a place) carefully or thoroughly in an effort to find or discover something
he rummaged the desk drawer trying to find the spare keys
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of rummaging
Dogs around Delhi usually mind their business, which includes basking in the sun, rummaging through trash for food or chasing away rats.
—
Mithil Aggarwal, NBC news, 25 Oct. 2025
This sleek, clear bag makes the liquids rule effortless, so, no more rummaging at security or awkwardly unpacking mid-line.
—Alesandra Dubin, Travel + Leisure, 24 Oct. 2025
Inicat Leather Crossbody Bag, $16 with Prime Airports can feel chaotic, and so can rummaging through your bag to find your wallet, ID, and cash.
—Nicol Natale, PEOPLE, 8 Oct. 2025
At this point the franchise’s decision makers might need to start exploring free agent options, and rummaging through the waiver wire to fortify this unit because depth, and the experience level of the cornerback unit, remains a major concern heading into the regular season.
—Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 16 Aug. 2025
Throughout, her signature dusky vocal leads listeners through a complex tapestry of sounds, rummaging through styles and genres, without ever abandoning her musical core.
—Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 11 Aug. 2025
He's known to sneak off to the recycling bin on the regular, rummaging through the recyclables to find his favorite brew.
—Amaris Encinas, USA Today, 8 Aug. 2025
Scott and Keely Wooster are familiar – maybe too familiar – with a couple non-hibernating black bears that regularly visit their home in the hills northwest of Redding, California, rummaging through the trash cans and raiding their pets' food dishes.
—Damon Arthur, USA TODAY, 27 Dec. 2024
Stock Up Keeping all the essentials out in the open can help guests avoid rummaging through the cabinets and closets looking for items like a bath towel or tissues.
—Patricia Shannon, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Dec. 2024
Mithil Aggarwal, NBC news, 25 Oct. 2025
This sleek, clear bag makes the liquids rule effortless, so, no more rummaging at security or awkwardly unpacking mid-line.
—Alesandra Dubin, Travel + Leisure, 24 Oct. 2025
Inicat Leather Crossbody Bag, $16 with Prime Airports can feel chaotic, and so can rummaging through your bag to find your wallet, ID, and cash.
—Nicol Natale, PEOPLE, 8 Oct. 2025
At this point the franchise’s decision makers might need to start exploring free agent options, and rummaging through the waiver wire to fortify this unit because depth, and the experience level of the cornerback unit, remains a major concern heading into the regular season.
—Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 16 Aug. 2025
Throughout, her signature dusky vocal leads listeners through a complex tapestry of sounds, rummaging through styles and genres, without ever abandoning her musical core.
—Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 11 Aug. 2025
He's known to sneak off to the recycling bin on the regular, rummaging through the recyclables to find his favorite brew.
—Amaris Encinas, USA Today, 8 Aug. 2025
Scott and Keely Wooster are familiar – maybe too familiar – with a couple non-hibernating black bears that regularly visit their home in the hills northwest of Redding, California, rummaging through the trash cans and raiding their pets' food dishes.
—Damon Arthur, USA TODAY, 27 Dec. 2024
Stock Up Keeping all the essentials out in the open can help guests avoid rummaging through the cabinets and closets looking for items like a bath towel or tissues.
—Patricia Shannon, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Dec. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rummaging
Verb
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Rutgers-Eagleton’s mid-October survey mirrored that trend, finding 42 percent of voters viewed Sherrill favorably and 45 percent unfavorably, while Ciattarelli’s numbers were 41 percent favorable and 47 percent unfavorable.—
Martha McHardy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Oct. 2025
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And with 23andMe filing for bankruptcy earlier this year, her chances of finding any additional siblings may be dwindling.—
Chelsea Bailey,
CNN Money,
25 Oct. 2025
Verb
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To hear the full episode, subscribe through iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app (include the forward slashes when searching).—
Fiction Non Fiction,
Literary Hub,
6 Nov. 2025
-
Rescuers in the Philippines were still searching for more than 100 people missing, mostly in widespread flooding in central provinces.—
Robert Birsel,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Sacramento County health inspectors closed a local diner, a Vietnamese restaurant and a boba tea shop after discovering over dozens of German cockroaches and other food safety violations.—
Sacbee.com,
Sacbee.com,
31 Oct. 2025
-
Themes of self-acceptance, discovering one’s true potential, the power of friendship, and embracing the unknown are all wrapped in a quirky, adventurous comedy.—
Leo Barraclough,
Variety,
31 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
For example, when a manager gives feedback to a team member, Cisco's learning platform will combine that feedback with other data points, such as the employee's skills profile, to generate personalized learning recommendations.—
Kelly Jones,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Nov. 2025
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So did laws and court rulings that followed — barring Black men from the militia, barring Black adults from juries, barring Black children from learning alongside white children in public schools, and barring racial intermarriage.—
Equal Justice Initiative,
USA Today,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
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The strong, measurable preference makes the orange lichens reliable natural indicators for locating fossil remains.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
4 Nov. 2025
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Police asked for the public's help locating Hermios, who is a Pacific Islander, stands at 4 feet 2 inches tall, weighs 110 pounds and has brown hair and brown eyes.—
Wren Smetana,
AZCentral.com,
2 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Other younger-generation consumers say there’s really no advantage to using cash and complain that getting some wastes time.—
Sydney Lake,
Fortune,
1 Nov. 2025
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See all the stars getting SCAD to the bone below.—
EW Staff,
Entertainment Weekly,
1 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Rummaging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rummaging. Accessed 8 Nov. 2025.
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