sediment 1 of 2

verb

ˈse-də-ˌment How to pronounce sediment (audio)
Definition of sedimentnext
as in to settle
to cause to come to rest at the bottom (as of a liquid) the water flowing into the reservoir is sedimenting silt faster than was originally expected

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

sediment

2 of 2

noun

ˈse-də-mənt How to pronounce sediment (audio)
as in silt
matter that settles to the bottom of a body of liquid the sediment at the bottom of the river needs to be routinely dredged so that it doesn't interfere with barge traffic

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 sediment
Verb
It’s really sedimented and entangled. — Emily Watlington, ARTnews.com, 10 June 2026 The team observed the octopuses launch objects and sediment several body lengths away. — Corryn Wetzel, Smithsonian Magazine, 1 Sep. 2021
Noun
Two of those casualties appear to be soldiers excavated from sediment beneath the motorcycle. — Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 13 Aug. 2026 Ancient soils gave way to coarser river deposits, suggesting that the loss of canopy altered how water and sediment moved through the basin. — Regan E. Dunn, The Conversation, 13 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for sediment
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sediment
  1. settle
  2. silt
  3. filter
  4. deposition
  5. deposit
  6. precipitate
Verb
  • Conviser and DePaul settled her remaining claims in August 2024.
    — Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 17 Aug. 2026
  • The Long Wharf Theatre staged it in 1999, with a 1930s setting not far from what Elm Shakespeare has settled on but with a Black cast and specifically set during the Harlem Renaissance.
    — Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 16 Aug. 2026
Definition of settle
Noun
  • As the waters receded in some areas, many families returned to homes buried under thick layers of silt, adding to the challenges of recovery.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Operating continuously beneath complex sub-river geology of riverbed silt and sand, the shield machine operated without intermediate access shafts.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 30 July 2026
Definition of silt
Verb
  • Inuspheresis—colloquially known as blood washing—is the newest therapy available at Lanserhof Tegernsee, selected for its ability to filter a wide range of unwanted substances from your plasma.
    — Justin Fenner, Robb Report, 15 Aug. 2026
  • These include tenocytes [the primary component of tendons]; the cells that wrap around blood vessels and stabilize the circulatory system; the smooth muscle cells of the colon; and kidney epithelial cells, which filter toxins from the blood.
    — Ingrid Wickelgren, Quanta Magazine, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of filter
Noun
  • Black has reportedly agreed to appear for a deposition in September and produce the NDAs.
    — Nate Freeman, Vanity Fair, 14 Aug. 2026
  • The lawsuit attributes the new information to a deposition of Richard Cooper, the BBC’s director of digital distribution.
    — Jake Kanter, Deadline, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of deposition
Noun
  • The informal miners go into the mines to look for leftover deposits to sell.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 11 Aug. 2026
  • Only about 6% of the region’s deposits are controlled by the combined bank, ranking fourth behind larger national competition such as Truist, Bank of America and Wells Fargo.
    — Zachary Hansen, AJC.com, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of deposit
Noun
  • Acid can be used to leach elements like calcium out, then a chemical or energetic process precipitates that calcium as calcium hydroxide.
    — Scott K. Johnson, ArsTechnica, 15 May 2026
  • One such innovative solution is to utilize the natural ability of microbes to precipitate minerals.
    — Srishti Gupta, Interesting Engineering, 31 Mar. 2026
Definition of precipitate

Browse Nearby Words

sedentary
sediment
sedimented
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Cite this Entry

“Sediment.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sediment. Accessed 18 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on sediment

Nglish: Translation of sediment for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about sediment

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