Synonyms of shoveling

shoveling

verb

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

• digging
• excavating
• dredging
• grubbing
• scooping
• burrowing
• clawing
• delving
• mining
• spading
• quarrying
• digging in

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• filling (in)
• smoothing (out or over)

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of shoveling

When commercial extraction began in the 1840s, workers were not simply shoveling loose bird droppings. — Edward D. Melillo, Fortune, 27 July 2026

With the work now being migration, most programs are still shoveling, counting tasks and missing the structure. — Maman Ibrahim, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026

Spielberg didn’t film those terrifying closeups of the shark – like when Jaws pops up as Brody is shoveling the bloody chump slick in the water — until Day 92. — Mike Fleming Jr, Deadline, 22 June 2026

On summer breaks from university, Gilmore also worked at the port, painting buildings, shoveling coal on a steamship and crewing on harbor boats. — Bloomberg, Mercury News, 11 June 2026

This can include flattening the hill, raking or shoveling the mound, or even using a garden hose to flood the area. — Cori Sears, The Spruce, 4 June 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

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

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