shovel

as in to dig
to hollow out or form (something) by removing earth the troops quickly shoveled a trench

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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 shovel Physical tasks like gardening, shoveling the driveway, washing the car, and cleaning the house can get your heart rate up and count as a fat-burning activity. Sherri Gordon, Health, 27 Aug. 2025 Amid hunting for clues on the case, Tom hunches over his desk, lazily shoveling sausage-and-onion sandwiches into his mouth. EW.com, 26 Aug. 2025 The 1920s briefcase is wide open, arm scraping across the table, shoveling it into the briefcase. Christopher Kamrani, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2025 Walking briskly, shovelling snow, or cycling in a winter coat can lead to overheating. Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 14 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for shovel
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shovel
Verb
  • Support journalism that digs deeper into topics that matter most to Arkansans.
    Ella McCarthy, Arkansas Online, 30 Sep. 2025
  • Caught in a toughness-testing Sunday afternoon brawl with the Raiders, the Bears dug deep and showed the resilience and survival instincts to claw out a win.
    Dan Wiederer, New York Times, 29 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • His aristocratic tastes are reflected in his various building projects, the remains of which have been excavated.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 30 Sep. 2025
  • After being granted a license to excavate at the temple in 2004, Martínez and her team uncovered a piece of blue glass in 2005.
    Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 26 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Shovel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shovel. Accessed 1 Oct. 2025.

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