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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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
Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 3 Apr. 2025
These materials trap sediment, absorb heavy metals, and remove fertilizers, waste, and pollutants before the water is released into the canals and, eventually, Biscayne Bay.
—Courtney Heath, Miami Herald, 1 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for 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
This suggests the amphibians perished in calm waters and were gently buried by layers of fine sediment over time.
—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 3 Apr. 2025
These materials trap sediment, absorb heavy metals, and remove fertilizers, waste, and pollutants before the water is released into the canals and, eventually, Biscayne Bay.
—Courtney Heath, Miami Herald, 1 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sediment
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sediment
Verb
-
For all the chaos and strife of the tariffs in the opening act of his second term, Trump’s U.S.-Canada-Mexico trade deal, which went into effect in 2020, and his negotiations with China during his first term indicate some ability not just to pick economic fights but to try to settle them.—
Jennifer M. Harris,
Foreign Affairs,
22 Apr. 2025
-
Lindblad also lost steam, settling for par on every hole after the 11th.—
Benjamin Royer,
Los Angeles Times,
21 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
But their efforts were hampered by severe debris and silt buildup, which in some places was reportedly six to seven feet high.—
Ali Watkins,
New York Times,
24 Feb. 2025
-
Search and rescue teams were at the scene on Friday using heavy military equipment and excavators to remove silt from the body of water where the vehicle was found on Wednesday.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
28 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
And every disappearance is a tragedy for the forest ecosystem and the humans that depend on it to filter their water and air.—
Lauren Leffer,
Popular Science,
24 Apr. 2025
-
Such pavers allow stormwater to be gradually filtered to the lot’s subbase, reducing flooding in the watershed and along the West Branch of the DuPage River, the release said.—
Michelle Mullins,
Chicago Tribune,
24 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
The finale features Dan's passionate support of his dead wife during a deposition for a lawsuit against the opioid company.—
Bryan Alexander,
USA Today,
25 Apr. 2025
-
An attorney for the governor, Scott Eckersley, later said in a deposition that Martin tried to block the release of government emails and told employees to delete their messages.—
Jeremy Kohler,
ProPublica,
24 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
This deposit in northeastern Brazil is known for exceptional fossil preservation and is housed at the Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de São Paulo.—
Laura Baisas,
Popular Science,
24 Apr. 2025
-
Investors appeared to focus on record quarterly loan production of $1.4 billion and deposit growth of $635.5 million.—
Brandon Kochkodin,
Forbes.com,
24 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Once completed, the smelter will produce 90,000 tonnes of mixed hydroxide precipitate, a crucial material for making EV batteries.—
Yessar Rosendar,
Forbes,
26 Feb. 2025
-
Says the report: The calomel is captured as a precipitate and transferred to a mercury recycler who presumably converts it to elemental mercury and sells it into commerce. . . .—
Sallie Tisdale,
Harper's Magazine,
2 Dec. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Sediment.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sediment. Accessed 30 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share