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
Pam Leblanc, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 Mar. 2026
Check the bucket to see if the water is clear and if there is any sediment or debris in the bottom of the bucket.
—Timothy Dale, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 Feb. 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
An influx of sediment gives the water along the upper coast a caramel-colored hue, but farther south, the water runs clear.
—Pam Leblanc, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 Mar. 2026
Check the bucket to see if the water is clear and if there is any sediment or debris in the bottom of the bucket.
—Timothy Dale, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sediment
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sediment
Verb
-
Some are fearful, however, that an old pattern of extraction without development may be settling in.—
Jeronimo Gonzalez,
semafor.com,
13 Mar. 2026
-
TikTok and Snap were also named defendants in the lawsuit, but settled before the trial began.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
13 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
In 2023, a 20-year-old man from Illinois died after getting trapped in quicksand-like silt in Alaska.—
Outside,
Outside,
5 Mar. 2026
-
The sun sank back into the clouds, like a white stone falling through silt.—
Robert Moor,
New Yorker,
2 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Once this storm heads east by Thursday afternoon, cooler and drier weather will filter in with temperatures closer to our March normals of 50 degrees and 71 degrees.—
Mary Wasson,
Austin American Statesman,
8 Mar. 2026
-
The tour uses Signify Group’s Threat Matrix service, which is designed to help protect players on social media by detecting and filtering out abusive messages through a combination of AI and human analysts.—
James Hansen,
New York Times,
8 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The Blanquicet’s eyewitness account was revealed in his deposition filed in Miami federal court last week, before four South Florida defendants began their federal trial on murder-conspiracy charges tied to Moïse’s assassination.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
9 Mar. 2026
-
In his deposition in a civil suit later filed by Hight’s father, Smith’s chief deputy explained that because Jackson initially worked part-time, the civil service process didn’t apply to him.—
USA Today,
USA Today,
8 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
In early 2021, the National Securities Clearing Corporation demanded a $3 billion collateral deposit.—
Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson,
semafor.com,
13 Mar. 2026
-
For now, Californians can reserve an Afeela 1 for a $200 deposit.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
13 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Hi-hats and snares appear in fragmentary bursts, icy synths precipitate and evaporate, and Zel slithers wryly in the cut.—
Olivier Lafontant,
Pitchfork,
25 Feb. 2026
-
The polyester precipitates from the solvent upon cooling, and can likewise be reused.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
26 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sediment.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sediment. Accessed 14 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
