as in to settle
to cause to come to rest at the bottom (as of a liquid)
the water flowing into the reservoir is sedimenting silt faster than was originally expected
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in silt
matter that settles to the bottom of a body of liquid
the sediment at the bottom of the river needs to be routinely dredged so that it doesn't interfere with barge traffic
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 sediment
Kansas City Star, 10 Apr. 2024
The team observed the octopuses launch objects and sediment several body lengths away.
—Corryn Wetzel, Smithsonian Magazine, 1 Sep. 2021
Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 10 Feb. 2025
These sediments formed from weathered granite and are acidic, not ideal for long-term preservation of bone.
—Smithsonian Magazine, 7 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sediment
Verb
The exploration data collected to-date indicates that previous historical open pit heap leaching operations did not advance their plans to develop attractive, wide, shallow gold-silver mineralization hosted in major structural zones in the Bisbee Group sediments west of the Contention Pit.
—Kansas City Star, 10 Apr. 2024
The team observed the octopuses launch objects and sediment several body lengths away.
—Corryn Wetzel, Smithsonian Magazine, 1 Sep. 2021
Noun
Off the coast of Japan, thousands of feet below the surface, the seafloor explodes with heat.
Cracks and vents in the rocky sediment allow boiling seawater heated by subterranean magma to shoot back up into the sea, reaching temperatures of more than 700 degrees Fahrenheit.
—Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 10 Feb. 2025
These sediments formed from weathered granite and are acidic, not ideal for long-term preservation of bone.
—Smithsonian Magazine, 7 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sediment
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sediment
Verb
-
Here, any sedimentary layers that settle to the bed of the brine pool remain exquisitely intact.—
Christina Shaw,
Fox News,
21 Feb. 2025
-
Powell had to settle for a showing in Saturday night’s 3-point contest.—
Law Murray,
The Athletic,
21 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
The Myers home sits in the middle of Strata’s range with soils made up of mostly clay, silt, silty sand and clayey sand.—
Nick Rosenberger,
Idaho Statesman,
17 Feb. 2025
-
The main distinction is the type of material involved: mudslides are composed of fine silt and saturated soil, whereas landslides might consist of a combination of dirt and heavier debris, according to the California Department of Education.—
Christopher Cann,
USA TODAY,
14 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
The amount of high-energy radiation that filters in through the foliage can vary greatly between habitats, some of which are heavily shaded by leafy canopies, while others are more open and allow more sunlight in.—
Elizabeth Rayne,
Ars Technica,
23 Feb. 2025
-
Blend the soaked beans with fresh water in a food processor, then filter the mixture through a clean fabric.—
Merve Ceylan,
Health,
20 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
The ruling did not mention of any protective orders for the deposition or limitations on scope.—
Nancy Dillon,
Rolling Stone,
24 Feb. 2025
-
The appeals court sided with Hunley in November and cleared the way for the continued deposition.—
José Ignacio Castañeda Perez,
The Arizona Republic,
15 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
The rebel group’s capture of swathes of the east and valuable mineral deposits has fanned fears of a wider war.—
Reuters,
CNN,
24 Feb. 2025
-
Zelensky has instructed his team to draft a counterproposal that includes explicit security guarantees, while still allowing the U.S. access to its mineral deposits.—
Mark Joseph,
Newsweek,
23 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
Once completed, the smelter will produce 90,000 tonnes of mixed hydroxide precipitate, a crucial material for making EV batteries.—
Yessar Rosendar,
Forbes,
26 Feb. 2025
-
Says the report: The calomel is captured as a precipitate and transferred to a mercury recycler who presumably converts it to elemental mercury and sells it into commerce. . . .—
Sallie Tisdale,
Harper's Magazine,
2 Dec. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Sediment.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sediment. Accessed 4 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share