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
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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
Annika Hammerschlag, Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2026
According to General Motors, the sediment appears to come from two additives in the brake fluid rather than outside contamination.
—Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 7 May 2026
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
King tides — the year’s highest tides, which climate change is making more frequent and severe — stir up sediment and reduce the light that reaches the seafloor.
—Annika Hammerschlag, Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2026
According to General Motors, the sediment appears to come from two additives in the brake fluid rather than outside contamination.
—Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 7 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for sediment
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sediment
Verb
-
Check the facts, ask one clarifying question, and let real information settle your nervous system.—
Tarot.com,
The Orlando Sentinel,
15 May 2026
-
In a social media era rife with mouthwatering food content, kids will no longer settle for a drab school meal.—
Joe Hernandez,
NPR,
14 May 2026
Noun
-
Thanks to the cold water temperature, lack of natural light, and the layers of silt covering many of the artifacts, the ship and its contents were in remarkably good condition.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
8 May 2026
-
Spider plants want loamy soil, according to Howe, which means an equal mixture of sand, silt, and clay.—
Emily Hayes,
Martha Stewart,
8 May 2026
Verb
-
The 11-bed unit, opened in 2005, has a dedicated laboratory and HEPA-filtered, negative-pressure rooms that prevent pathogens from escaping into all patient rooms.—
Rebecca Cohen,
NBC news,
17 May 2026
-
Copalli White Rum is fermented and distilled shortly after cane pressing to preserve volatile aromatic compounds, then minimally filtered and bottled unaged.—
Joseph V Micallef,
Forbes.com,
17 May 2026
Noun
-
In his deposition testimony, the surgeon said William began bleeding extensively, causing his heart to stop.—
Charlotte Phillipp,
PEOPLE,
10 May 2026
-
Krebs’s group and other plaintiffs posted clips of Fox and Cavanaugh’s depositions in March in part to bring more attention—and viral infamy—to the case.—
Janay Kingsberry,
The Atlantic,
9 May 2026
Noun
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He was also accused of deceiving escrow agents to secure the release of pre-construction condominium deposits and then misappropriated those funds for personal expenses unrelated to the developments.—
Jay Weaver,
Miami Herald,
14 May 2026
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While small companies going out of business and leaving some customers empty handed can happen, the transactions are typically for much smaller amounts, such as deposits on furniture, according to Rheingold.—
Amber Gaudet,
Charlotte Observer,
14 May 2026
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
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One such innovative solution is to utilize the natural ability of microbes to precipitate minerals.—
Srishti Gupta,
Interesting Engineering,
31 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sediment.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sediment. Accessed 18 May. 2026.
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