The rummage sale netted me a profit.
Source: tatoeba (239322)
Rummage
Synonyms for "rummage" (120 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (24)
Strong matches (36)
foragefriskgrubhashhotchpotchhouse-searchhugger muggerhunthuntingjumblejungleleave no stone unturnedlitterlook all overlook everywherelook throughmashmess upmiscellaneamiscellany
Verb(1 words)
Noun(9 words)
Determiner(1 words)
more foraging
Related words (60)
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: beat, browse, clutter, comb, conglomeration.
- Sentence evidence is available for rummage, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from moby, opengloss, derived_reverse, wordnet, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "rummage".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "rummage"
Keep "rummage" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "rummage" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "rummage", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "rummage" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
15 entriesMore specific
11 entriesbox rummagecharity saledesk rummagedrawer rummagefundraiser salego throughperuserifle throughroot throughsift throughthrift sale
Collocations
9 entriesdesk rummagerummage bagrummage binrummage boxrummage drawerrummage itemsrummage listrummage pilerummage sale
Inflections
3 entriesDerivations
1 entriesTranslations
33 translations across 25 languages.
Aromanian
1 entries- gurnjescu verb ((intransitive) to search something which contains many items)
Bulgarian
1 entries- претърсвам verb ((intransitive) to search something which contains many items)
Catalan
2 entries- furgar verb ((intransitive) to search something which contains many items)
- remenar verb ((intransitive) to search something which contains many items)
Chinese Mandarin
1 entries- 翻尋 /翻寻 verb ((intransitive) to search something which contains many items)
Cimbrian
1 entries- büulan verb ((intransitive) to search something which contains many items)
Finnish
1 entries- penkoa verb ((intransitive) to search something which contains many items)
French
1 entries- fouiller verb ((intransitive) to search something which contains many items)
Galician
2 entries- cachear verb ((intransitive) to search something which contains many items)
- remexer verb ((intransitive) to search something which contains many items)
German
1 entries- durchwühlen verb ((intransitive) to search something which contains many items)
Greek
1 entries- σκαλίζω verb ((intransitive) to search something which contains many items)
Gujarati
1 entries- ફેંદવું verb ((intransitive) to search something which contains many items)
Hebrew
1 entries- חיטט verb ((intransitive) to search something which contains many items)
Irish
1 entries- tiomsaigh verb ((intransitive) to search something which contains many items)
Italian
2 entries- frugare verb ((intransitive) to search something which contains many items)
- rovistare verb ((intransitive) to search something which contains many items)
Japanese
2 entries- 引っ掻き回す verb ((intransitive) to search something which contains many items)
- 漁る verb ((intransitive) to search something which contains many items)
Māori
2 entries- hurahura verb ((intransitive) to search something which contains many items)
- paraketu verb ((intransitive) to search something which contains many items)
Northern Sami
1 entries- boltut verb ((intransitive) to search something which contains many items)
Norwegian
1 entries- gjennomsøke verb ((intransitive) to search something which contains many items)
Portuguese
1 entries- vasculhar verb ((intransitive) to search something which contains many items)
Romanian
2 entries- cotrobăi verb ((intransitive) to search something which contains many items)
- scotoci verb ((intransitive) to search something which contains many items)
Russian
2 entries- копа́ться verb ((intransitive) to search something which contains many items)
- ры́ться verb ((intransitive) to search something which contains many items)
Spanish
1 entries- papelear verb ((intransitive) to search something which contains many items)
Swedish
1 entries- rota verb ((intransitive) to search something which contains many items)
Tagalog
1 entries- halughog verb ((intransitive) to search something which contains many items)
Thai
2 entries- คุ้ย verb ((intransitive) to search something which contains many items)
- ค้น verb ((intransitive) to search something which contains many items)
Sample sentences
15 total sentences available.
Tom opened the drawer and began to rummage through it.
Source: tatoeba (9392635)
Many of them are squatters who live in the barrio's plywood and corrugated metal shacks, as pigs rummage through the garbage for leftovers.
Source: tatoeba (11384044)
Ziri started to rummage greedily in his mom's purse.
Source: tatoeba (11467793)
Showing 4 of 15 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "rummage"?
Closest matches include beat, browse, clutter, comb, conglomeration.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "rummage"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.