as in searching
to look through (as a place) carefully or thoroughly in an effort to find or discover something
I've been dredging my memory bank, and I simply can't remember her name
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Recent Examples of dredging
The fact that Ryan Murphy’s American Love Story is shooting in the neighborhood is dredging everything back up again.
—
Nate Jones, Vulture, 5 Sep. 2025
The changes a deepwater port could bring The Army Corps of Engineers this month issued a $400 million contract to begin the first phase of the port project, which will ultimately include dredging sediment from the ocean so bigger ships can dock.
—Trevor Hughes, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2025
Additional land could come from dredging the lake.
—Steve Sadin, Chicago Tribune, 25 Aug. 2025
Or she’d fry okra after dredging it in fine cornmeal.
—Anne Byrn, Southern Living, 19 Aug. 2025
It would be leaked to Seymour Hersh in 1974; by then, the man who had pulled the report together for Schlesinger, William Colby, was DCI, but Schlesinger was blamed for dredging it all up in the first place.
—Matthew Wills, JSTOR Daily, 1 Apr. 2020
Nate Jones, Vulture, 5 Sep. 2025
The changes a deepwater port could bring The Army Corps of Engineers this month issued a $400 million contract to begin the first phase of the port project, which will ultimately include dredging sediment from the ocean so bigger ships can dock.
—Trevor Hughes, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2025
Additional land could come from dredging the lake.
—Steve Sadin, Chicago Tribune, 25 Aug. 2025
Or she’d fry okra after dredging it in fine cornmeal.
—Anne Byrn, Southern Living, 19 Aug. 2025
It would be leaked to Seymour Hersh in 1974; by then, the man who had pulled the report together for Schlesinger, William Colby, was DCI, but Schlesinger was blamed for dredging it all up in the first place.
—Matthew Wills, JSTOR Daily, 1 Apr. 2020
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dredging
Verb
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Authorities are still searching for those responsible.—
Josh Meyer,
USA Today,
11 Sep. 2025
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Who isn't searching for Japan travel?—
Monica Pitrelli,
CNBC,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
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So, like two detectives sniffing a break in a case, Richardson and Soto further investigated, scanning more clips in search of supporting evidence.—
Will Sammon,
New York Times,
8 Sep. 2025
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At the same time, a Gen X employee might dedicate 15 minutes each morning to scanning industry headlines.—
Caroline Castrillon,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The easy 1-mile route takes hikers under the bridge—past the spot where George Washington allegedly carved his initials into the rock when surveying the land—and then out to Lace Falls, a 50-foot cascade.—
Lydia Mansel,
Southern Living,
8 Sep. 2025
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Damage assessment teams are still surveying the burn area, Cal Fire said, but fire officials said early estimates of crop damage from the blaze were expected to be at least $65 million.—
Sacbee.com,
Sacbee.com,
28 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Ilett has been combing the schedule.—
Don Riddell,
CNN Money,
2 Sep. 2025
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Less than two weeks later, a DOGE task force arrived in Bradenton for a two-day visit, combing through files and interviewing staff.—
Josh Salman,
Miami Herald,
29 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Charlotte’s second consecutive 11-play drive halted in the red zone after Harrell led the 49ers down the field with repetitive strikes through the air, finding his favorite target, Javen Nicholas, to set Charlotte up in scoring position.—
Hunter Bailey,
Charlotte Observer,
7 Sep. 2025
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Assuring the continuation of this gem means finding spots on future schedules to place it.—
Blair Kerkhoff,
Kansas City Star,
7 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Fall color doesn't have to mean a bunch of blowing and raking.—
Patricia Shannon,
Southern Living,
1 Sep. 2025
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Operations include tractors pulling raking machines, supporting crews of laborers who pick up litter and empty trash cans by hand and beach sweepers who clear paths for pedestrians and bike trail users.—
Adriana Pérez,
Chicago Tribune,
22 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dredging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dredging. Accessed 14 Sep. 2025.
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