Synonyms of shovel

shovel

verb

as in to dig

to hollow out or form (something) by removing earth

the troops quickly shoveled a trench

Synonyms & Similar Words

• dig
• excavate
• dredge
• scoop
• claw
• quarry
• burrow
• spade
• delve
• grub
• mine
• dig in

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• fill (in)
• smooth (out or over)

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of shovel

Residents sat in homes with walls washed away by the floods, shoveling sludge-like mud and rubble off balconies or window frames. — Victoria Milko, Los Angeles Times, 30 Aug. 2026

After all, that is a quite a load – Lacy also caught 29 passes – and some of it could be shoveled off to Michigan State transfer Makhi Frazier. — Tom Layberger, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026

Earlier this month, bulldozers were videoed uprooting trees and shoveling dirt as wild animals trotted by. — Ashley Killough, CNN Money, 13 Aug. 2026

In the absence of heavy equipment, rescue workers, police and volunteers shoveled debris by hand at many sites, looking for survivors. — Marc Ramirez, USA Today, 11 Aug. 2026