sediment 1 of 2

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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sediment

2 of 2

noun

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

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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 sediment
Verb
The exploration data collected to-date indicates that previous historical open pit heap leaching operations did not advance their plans to develop attractive, wide, shallow gold-silver mineralization hosted in major structural zones in the Bisbee Group sediments west of the Contention Pit. Kansas City Star, 10 Apr. 2024 The team observed the octopuses launch objects and sediment several body lengths away. Corryn Wetzel, Smithsonian Magazine, 1 Sep. 2021
Noun
The waterless Wadi Hammamat between the Nile and the Red Sea was quarried for the siltstone formed from ancient river sediment that had hardened over millions of years to provide a limitless supply of stone coffins (sarcophagi). Vanessa Taylor, Big Think, 25 Sep. 2025 Methods like cover crops and no-till practices can hold sediments and nutrients in place, said Mike Dunn, TNC’s director of freshwater conservation. Karl Schneider, IndyStar, 25 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for sediment
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sediment
Verb
  • After just a few minutes on each arm, the soreness had noticeably decreased, and my arms looked more defined and less puffy, especially near the underarm area where water retention tends to settle.
    Francesca Krempa, StyleCaster, 4 Oct. 2025
  • Skipping regular washes—Letting white towels sit too long between washes gives body oils, makeup, and mildew more time to settle into the fibers and stain them permanently.
    Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 4 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Because of the weir, the 220-acre lagoon can’t flow freely to the ocean and is slowly filling with silt and reeds.
    Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Sep. 2025
  • When high tides arrive, water brings silt into the bay.
    Andrea Tamayo, Scientific American, 25 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Rather than fighting this inevitable tide, Köhler closely examines the subject without didacticism, filtering it through a passive-aggressive relationship drama, until only its most potent ingredients remain.
    Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 28 Sep. 2025
  • From across the hall, the sounds of a raucous clubhouse celebration filtered in.
    Gabrielle Starr, Boston Herald, 27 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • During Commissioner Hamm’s deposition, one of Grayson’s lawyers pointed out the ability for some death row inmates to acquire drugs, including his own client — and questioned whether that affected Grayson’s ability to meaningfully participate in his own defense.
    Abigail Brooks, NBC news, 25 Sep. 2025
  • Swift reportedly agreed to the deposition before the incident.
    StyleCaster Editors, StyleCaster, 24 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • To clean food stains or mineral deposits, spray the area with a mixture of equal parts white vinegar and water.
    Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 2 Oct. 2025
  • Minimum deposit and balance requirements may vary depending on the investment vehicle selected.
    Andreina Rodriguez, CNBC, 1 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The new high-pressure acid leaching smelter will produce 66,000 tons of nickel in mixed hydroxide precipitate each year when completed, using nickel ore from Vale Indonesia’s mines.
    Yessar Rosendar, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2025
  • While the faithful typically congregate in St. Peter's Square daily during the conclave, the public signal that a pontiff has been chosen precipitates a surge of observers rushing to be among the first to see the new pope in person.
    Christopher Watson, ABC News, 8 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Sediment.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sediment. Accessed 5 Oct. 2025.

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