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
Thick brown and gray mud coated the surfaces of school benches, walls and notebooks while the school’s courtyard was filled with sediment. — ABC News, 30 Aug. 2026 Permafrost on the mountains, the continuously frozen soil and sediment, is now changing, said Byers. — Ava Berger, NPR, 28 Aug. 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 tropical cyclone reached Category 5, defined by sustained winds of 157 mph or greater, overnight Friday before losing some of its steam and settling into Category 4’s limits of sustained winds of 130 to 156 mph by Saturday.
    — Dennis Romero, NBC news, 6 Sep. 2026
  • Our offensive weapons give Kyler a perfect runway to land the plane, finally settling into an environment that can nurture his skill set and get a payday in a prove-it year.
    — Adam Coleman, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of settle
Noun
  • Its bottom is lined with soft, soupy silt that makes traditional bridge pillars impossible.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 31 Aug. 2026
  • What survivors have said At least 279 hydropower workers have been rescued or managed to trudge their way out of the mud and silt riddled tunnels.
    — Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of silt
Verb
  • About 50 people filtered into the Perez Architecture Center for the event, many holding plates of danishes and boxes of Royal Dansk Danish butter cookies laid on tables by the entrance.
    — Zoey Thomas, Miami Herald, 5 Sep. 2026
  • The book is largely plotless with little characterization beyond what the speakers reveal in their monologues, which are mostly filtered through Faye’s narrative rather than presented as dialogue.
    — René Ostberg, Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of filter
Noun
  • In a deposition, the house manager testified there was nothing the staff could do if the child refused his medication.
    — Jacques Billeaud, Los Angeles Times, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Daniel and Lisa’s legal team pushed for Bohm to give a deposition on July 27 and July 30 — days the Phillies were not in Philadelphia.
    — Charlotte Varnes, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of deposition
Noun
  • An underwriter is not simply adding up deposits and calling it a day.
    — Karen Koehler, Miami Herald, 31 Aug. 2026
  • The next chief executive will need to accelerate growth, improve deposit mobilization and returns, and rebuild confidence around governance and senior-management stability, global brokerage Nomura said in a report on Sunday.
    — Priyanka Salve, CNBC, 31 Aug. 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 8 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on sediment

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about sediment

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