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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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
These might all show up in future sediments, many millions of years from now. — Laura Paddison, CNN Money, 25 July 2026 Most of these contaminants wash off the road and end up in streams and sediments. — Nathaniel Warner, The Conversation, 24 July 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
  • The sluggish start mirrored Wednesday’s defeat, leaving Bay FC once again chasing the game before many fans had settled into their seats.
    — Harold Gutmann, Mercury News, 2 Aug. 2026
  • Named for nebbia, the Italian word for the heavy layer of fog that settles over the vineyards around harvest time in early autumn, Nebbiolo has been cultivated in Piedmont for more than 750 years.
    — Mike DeSimone, Robb Report, 2 Aug. 2026
Definition of settle
Noun
  • 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
  • The water drew back from the house, left a thick, stinking silt across the floor.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 16 July 2026
Definition of silt
Verb
  • Blending coming-of-age drama with a dreamlike, science-fiction edge, the film filters Argentina’s economic instability and the pull of the digital world through the perspective of a child searching for an escape.
    — Emiliano de Pablos, Variety, 30 July 2026
  • For starters, neither file is filtered beyond building classification code.
    — Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 30 July 2026
Definition of filter
Noun
  • The states, meanwhile, are seeking additional time to obtain documents and take depositions from Paramount executives.
    — Gene Maddaus, Variety, 31 July 2026
  • The official transcript of George Jones’ deposition was sealed, barring it from being accessed by the public.
    — Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 30 July 2026
Definition of deposition
Noun
  • Children born from 2025 through 2028 can receive a one-time $1,000 deposit from the Treasury Department as part of a pilot program designed to jump-start long-term savings.
    — Jessica Dickler, CNBC, 27 July 2026
  • The nonprofit Car Care Council runs the programs, which are funded by unclaimed deposits on cans of R-134a refrigerant, in coordination with the California Air Resources Board.
    — Samantha Gowen, Oc Register, 27 July 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 4 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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