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 Use a potato fork or shovel to loosen soil all around the clump, working at least 1 foot away from the main stem. Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 Oct. 2025 Ella’s husband helps shovel snow and is happy to fix everyone’s tech — a digital concierge in residence. Adriane Quinlan, Curbed, 2 Oct. 2025 Soldiers have also been spotted in parks carrying out tasks typically assigned to gardeners and landscapers – shoveling mulch, blowing leaves and scooping up trash. Cybele Mayes-Osterman, USA Today, 14 Sep. 2025 On third-and-2 at the CU 20, the Buffs QB hurried left with seemingly the entire Houston defense in pursuit, spotted Omarion Miller just past the line of scrimmage, and shoveled him the ball before the red jerseys closed in. Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 13 Sep. 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.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 21 Oct. 2025
  • In our Reality Check stories, Charlotte Observer journalists dig deeper into questions over facts, consequences and accountability.
    Mary Ramsey, Charlotte Observer, 20 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • As Polly excavates the darkest parts of herself, the film can’t string together a build to match the depths of her soul-searching.
    J. Kim Murphy, Variety, 11 Oct. 2025
  • Not only did the impact excavate material onto the surface for later study, but its very rigidity can also allow researchers to determine how stiff ice in the region was at formation.
    Nola Taylor Tillman, Space.com, 10 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Shovel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shovel. Accessed 21 Oct. 2025.

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