1
as in finding
to come upon after searching, study, or effort
at the last minute she rummaged a costume from the attic
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in searching
to look through (as a place) carefully or thoroughly in an effort to find or discover something
he rummaged the desk drawer trying to find the spare keys
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of rummaging
Elderly people walk the streets alone —some rummaging through trash, others standing in long lines for the bread and rice provided by the ration book, the basic subsidized foods the state guarantees to every Cuban.
—
ABC News, 26 Apr. 2026
Sporting a classic look that doesn’t feel overly old-fashioned, the medium wood tone and exposed grain feeds into the illusion of a true antique find (without the work of rummaging through an estate sale catalogue).
—Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 24 Apr. 2026
Officers later found a group of teens rummaging through the backpack.
—Tara Lynch, CBS News, 20 Apr. 2026
Digital rummaging tests would protect against this idea of over-broad and expansive surveillance.
—ArsTechnica, 8 Apr. 2026
Tangled charging cords and rummaging through your bag mid-flight are problems this little organizer pouch completely eliminates.
—Chaise Sanders, Travel + Leisure, 5 Apr. 2026
The song progresses as the video shows scenes of deputies rummaging through the rapper's possessions, including several coats in a closet and CDs stacked near a stereo.
—Edward Segarra, USA Today, 18 Mar. 2026
Wired headphones, chargers, and adapters go here, so you’ll never be stuck rummaging through a tote bag for an EU-compatible plug at the gate again.
—Elly Leavitt, Vogue, 6 Feb. 2026
Nervous hands rummaging for tissues in handbags, sweaty embraces, last words of advice—and then, we were gone.
—Literary Hub, 2 Feb. 2026
ABC News, 26 Apr. 2026
Sporting a classic look that doesn’t feel overly old-fashioned, the medium wood tone and exposed grain feeds into the illusion of a true antique find (without the work of rummaging through an estate sale catalogue).
—Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 24 Apr. 2026
Officers later found a group of teens rummaging through the backpack.
—Tara Lynch, CBS News, 20 Apr. 2026
Digital rummaging tests would protect against this idea of over-broad and expansive surveillance.
—ArsTechnica, 8 Apr. 2026
Tangled charging cords and rummaging through your bag mid-flight are problems this little organizer pouch completely eliminates.
—Chaise Sanders, Travel + Leisure, 5 Apr. 2026
The song progresses as the video shows scenes of deputies rummaging through the rapper's possessions, including several coats in a closet and CDs stacked near a stereo.
—Edward Segarra, USA Today, 18 Mar. 2026
Wired headphones, chargers, and adapters go here, so you’ll never be stuck rummaging through a tote bag for an EU-compatible plug at the gate again.
—Elly Leavitt, Vogue, 6 Feb. 2026
Nervous hands rummaging for tissues in handbags, sweaty embraces, last words of advice—and then, we were gone.
—Literary Hub, 2 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rummaging
Verb
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Gabriel, a 5-11 quarterback with middling arm strength, will have a difficult time finding that same opportunity.—
Sam Warren,
New York Times,
25 Apr. 2026
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Desperation under dire circumstances didn’t stop the Lakers from finding their lifeline in a 112-108 overtime victory over the Houston Rockets, winning the 5-minute extra period 11-7 after a stunning comeback in the final minute of regulation.—
Benjamin Royer,
Oc Register,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
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By my count, that would leave the Rangers searching for three forwards and two defensemen, plus a new backup goalie.—
Vincent Z. Mercogliano,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
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That's because people like the Warneskys, who are seeking to rebuild in disaster-prone regions, are searching for greater peace of mind.—
Vanessa Romo,
NPR,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Scientists are using Nvidia GPUs to examine the data and regularly discovering the oldest galaxies in the universe.—
Reed Albergotti,
semafor.com,
24 Apr. 2026
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The Digital Fossil Mining, besides discovering the beaks in the first place, enabled Iba’s team to observe very fine details of their structure.—
Jacek Krywko,
ArsTechnica,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The building will have a gym, a gross motor room with play equipment for the youngest students, a two-story library with reading nooks, a learning hub able to accommodate two classes at a time, and an outdoor area with patio furniture.—
Mike Danahey,
Chicago Tribune,
28 Apr. 2026
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Dex’s focus on AI software developers and machine learning engineers has helped the company win over a clutch of high-profile recruiting leaders.—
Jeremy Kahn,
Fortune,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Analyses for both bills cite reporting by KFF Health News that found family members and attorneys have faced extreme difficulty locating and supporting patients hospitalized while in immigration custody.—
Claudia Boyd Barrett,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
25 Apr. 2026
-
Police were unsuccessful in locating Chance following the incident.—
Stephen Underwood,
Hartford Courant,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Plane tickets are getting pricier After jumping to $209 a barrel in early April, the global price of jet fuel eased last week to around $179, still well above the roughly $99 at the end of February.—
Mae Anderson,
Chicago Tribune,
1 May 2026
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Since getting sober, Holland's life has been a whirlwind.—
Charles Trepany,
USA Today,
1 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Rummaging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rummaging. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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