1
as in excavated
to hollow out or form (something) by removing earth
a backhoe dug a hole in the backyard to make a swimming pool
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in enjoyed
to take pleasure in
I really dig bluegrass music
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in knew
to have a clear idea of
can you dig what I'm saying?
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in poked
to urge or push forward with or as if with a pointed object
every time I slowed down, he'd dig me in the ribs
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of dug
By allowing 26 second-chance points and 19 points off turnovers, the Bulls dug themselves deep on their own.
—
Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 6 Jan. 2026
The coach, Mike McDaniel, proved a creative play-drawer, but dug an 0-3 hole in the season’s opening 12 days and beat just one winning team, Buffalo.
—Dave Hyde, Sun Sentinel, 5 Jan. 2026
Tavares dug the puck from the boards to Robertson, who beat Talbot with a slap shot.
—CBS News, 29 Dec. 2025
And on the front lines, activists, athletes, celebrities and journalists dug a deepening cultural divide.
—Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 26 Dec. 2025
The four shafts were vertical passages dug from the surface to the tunnel depth.
—Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 26 Dec. 2025
Her defrauding of the Foundation, however, surpassed that figure as FBI agents dug deeper into her theft.
—Jay Weaver, Miami Herald, 15 Dec. 2025
Too deep a hole was dug to get by, and ultimately get ahead, on a week or two of solid play.
—Jonas Siegel, New York Times, 14 Dec. 2025
The Chiefs dug themselves a hole by starting 0-2.
—Scott Chasen, Kansas City Star, 8 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dug
Verb
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Among them, a hominin femur that was excavated from the cave bears teeth marks.—
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The team found multiple 60,000-year-old quartz arrowheads excavated from the Umhlatuzana Rock Shelter in South Africa’s KwaZulu-Natal Province.—
Verb
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Shapiro has enjoyed robust public approval ratings and carries a reputation as a disciplined messenger and powerhouse fundraiser.—
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Yates subsequently joined the San Diego Padres and enjoyed the longest sustained success of his career before bouncing to Atlanta, Texas and the Dodgers over the past three seasons.—
Verb
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Though their divorce was acrimonious, and the two were later involved in various legal proceedings, the source said that Clarkson knew the importance of her children’s relationship with their father.—
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Authorities said the two teenagers knew each other, but did not provide further details on their relationship.—
Verb
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Manette poked fun at his famous recliner For over 35 years, Curt has settled into the same teal Bradington Young recliner to eat, watch TV and work out football plays.—
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Fox grabbed Vanderbilt to walk him away, but the Lakers forward poked Sochan in the face with his left index finger.—
Verb
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An article in Naval History described how Loomis liked to demonstrate the ship’s Colt machine guns to local officials.—
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As Joseph tried to mesh some of his own system with a more Vic Fangio-style scheme run previously by Ejiro Evero in Denver — a style many of the returning players liked — the new coordinator found himself inside a burning defensive building.—
Verb
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How gentle and precious to be understood.—
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In handing down the sentence, Montenegro said Bonillo understood the scope of his misdeeds, abused his position of trust and used that position to enrich himself while undermining CBP’s main goal.—
Verb
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Banfield stabbed his wife, according to prosecutors.—
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On Monday night last week, a man and woman were stabbed on the platform for the 69th Street Red Line stop.—
Verb
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The Bears coach loved every second of Jackson’s trap block, which aided a 9-yard Kyle Monangai run.—
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Sea thrift loved to grow around their base in the spring.—
Cite this Entry
“Dug.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dug. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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