They were shoveling the snow away.
Source: tatoeba (317679)
Shoveling
Synonyms for "shoveling" (19 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (4)
Strong matches (6)
Noun(6 words)
Related words (9)
Noun(9 words)
safe shovelingscoopscoopingsediment removalshovel workshovellingsnow clearingsoil manipulationtrench shoveling
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: back friendly shoveling, clear, clear snow, dig, digging.
- Sentence evidence is available for shoveling, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from opengloss, derived_reverse.
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 "shoveling".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "shoveling"
Keep "shoveling" 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 "shoveling" 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 "shoveling", 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 "shoveling" 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
12 entriesergonomicsexcavation workfieldworkhorticultural labormanual labormining operationsoccupational safetyphysical actionphysical taskseasonal laborsnow removalwork activity
More specific
10 entriesarchaeological shovelingback friendly shovelingcoal shovelingdirt shovelinglow impact shovelingmining shovelingmulch shovelingsand shovelingsnow shovelingsoil shoveling
Collocations
10 entriescoal shovelingdirt shovelingergonomic shovelingmanual shovelingshovel snowshoveling debrisshoveling dirtshoveling snowsnow removalsnow shoveling
Inflections
2 entriesDerivations
1 entriesSample sentences
10 total sentences available.
When he asked for a single slice, they gave him an entire uncut pizza, which he proceeded to eat by rolling it up like a burrito and just shoveling it in. The question, of course, is whether a whole entity is a slice of itself.
Source: tatoeba (841341)
In popular English a hopelessly fruitless effort is called "Shoveling shit against the tide."
Source: tatoeba (2055618)
Tom kept shoveling.
Source: tatoeba (2237096)
Showing 4 of 10 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "shoveling"?
Closest matches include back friendly shoveling, clear, clear snow, dig, digging.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "shoveling"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.