sediment 1 of 2

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

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sediment

2 of 2

noun

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

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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
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
This suggests the amphibians perished in calm waters and were gently buried by layers of fine sediment over time. Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 3 Apr. 2025 These materials trap sediment, absorb heavy metals, and remove fertilizers, waste, and pollutants before the water is released into the canals and, eventually, Biscayne Bay. Courtney Heath, Miami Herald, 1 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for sediment
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sediment
Verb
  • For all the chaos and strife of the tariffs in the opening act of his second term, Trump’s U.S.-Canada-Mexico trade deal, which went into effect in 2020, and his negotiations with China during his first term indicate some ability not just to pick economic fights but to try to settle them.
    Jennifer M. Harris, Foreign Affairs, 22 Apr. 2025
  • Lindblad also lost steam, settling for par on every hole after the 11th.
    Benjamin Royer, Los Angeles Times, 21 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • But their efforts were hampered by severe debris and silt buildup, which in some places was reportedly six to seven feet high.
    Ali Watkins, New York Times, 24 Feb. 2025
  • Search and rescue teams were at the scene on Friday using heavy military equipment and excavators to remove silt from the body of water where the vehicle was found on Wednesday.
    CBS News, CBS News, 28 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Jefferson’s Reserve Cask Strength is an eight-year-old bourbon that is non-chill filtered and bottled at 130 proof (65 percent ABV).
    Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 10 Apr. 2025
  • By flagging and filtering out negative moments—like an injury, tough tackle or angry fans—only the positive content reaches players and teams.
    Andrew Fingerman, Forbes.com, 9 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • The Texas Supreme Court said in November that Paxton would not have to sit for a deposition in the lawsuit — another win for the attorney general, who has managed to avoid testifying about the corruption allegations through the civil lawsuit, his impeachment trial and the federal investigation.
    Kayla Guo, ProPublica, 4 Apr. 2025
  • Details of those incidents — including the discipline Moulton received — were gleaned from depositions and other court filings from a lawsuit against the city by a man who was injured in one of the crashes.
    Cristóbal Reyes, Orlando Sentinel, 10 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • All preorders placed on Framework's site require a $100 deposit, and almost all configurations begin shipping in July.
    ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 10 Apr. 2025
  • For those interested in a more challenging hike, tack on the Crater Lake Trail, which, after a scramble through a glacier rock deposit, leads you to the crystalline water’s shores.
    Elise Taylor, Vogue, 8 Apr. 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

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Cite this Entry

“Sediment.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sediment. Accessed 25 Apr. 2025.

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