shoveling

variants or shovelling
present participle of shovel
as in digging
to hollow out or form (something) by removing earth the troops quickly shoveled a trench

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 shoveling Hart recovered a loose ball and started driving to the goal before shoveling a pass to Anunoby, who had gathered himself. Ian O'Connor, New York Times, 7 May 2026 In the medieval town of Belvì, men roast chestnuts—marroni—over an open fire in a frying pan the size of a swimming pool and then serve them to the crowd by shoveling them into troughs. IEEE Spectrum, 7 May 2026 Many of them include educational programs and things for kids to do, keeping them occupied if parents are shoveling compost. Charles Selle, Chicago Tribune, 6 May 2026 Crews were seen shoveling it away. Kris Habermehl, CBS News, 27 Apr. 2026 Wood handles are fine for light work, such as shoveling mulch. Midwest Living, 14 Apr. 2026 Multiple politicians from several countries are shoveling propaganda at an electorate in order to build terror of an enemy that doesn’t exist at all. Anne Applebaum, The Atlantic, 27 Mar. 2026 Josh Estrella, a spokesman for Mayor Brett Smiley, said that plans to pay nonprofits to organize volunteer shoveling efforts are also in the works. Antonia Noori Farzan, The Providence Journal, 26 Feb. 2026 Keep generators 20 feet from homes if power goes out, and take breaks while shoveling snow. Thao Nguyen, USA Today, 24 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shoveling
Verb
  • The issue circles back to the gigantic investment needed to mine that rich lode when the top names in tech are digging as well.
    Shawn Tully, Fortune, 29 May 2026
  • Use Squirrel Repellent Squirrel repellents are another humane option to spray around the yard to deter these rodents from digging it up.
    Ashlyn Needham, The Spruce, 28 May 2026
Verb
  • Archaeologists excavating an ancient cemetery in Cairo have found a cache of burial objects that could shed new light on funeral practices in one of Egypt‘s most important religious centers.
    Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 1 June 2026
  • The one who is excavating the stories that their colleagues, clients, and team members need to share but don’t yet know how to.
    Esther K. Choy, Forbes.com, 31 May 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Shoveling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shoveling. Accessed 11 Jun. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster