variants
also canvasing
1
as in interviewing
to go around and approach (people) with a request for opinions or information
we canvassed people all over town, asking if they would be interested in participating in a recycling program
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in discussing
to talk about (an issue) usually from various points of view and for the purpose of arriving at a decision or opinion
canvassed all the items on the agenda
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 canvassing
Rebecca Noble/Getty Images CBS News has learned investigators are also canvassing nearby gas stations in an effort to track down any vehicles captured on surveillance cameras around the time Nancy Guthrie went missing.
—
Sarah Lynch Baldwin, CBS News, 9 Feb. 2026
Detectives are canvassing the neighborhood, reviewing surveillance footage and analyzing digital data, including cellphone information, according to Arizona police.
—Marley Malenfant, Austin American Statesman, 5 Feb. 2026
Local and federal authorities are canvassing nearby residences and businesses for any security camera footage that may assist in identifying a possible suspect, a law enforcement source familiar with the investigation told CNN.
—Josh Campbell, CNN Money, 4 Feb. 2026
There are other centers and forwards on the market, too, and the Wild are canvassing their options.
—Joe Smith, New York Times, 4 Feb. 2026
But by the time cops were distributing her image, her worried parents had realized that the child wandered off and had begun canvassing the neighborhood for her.
—Rocco Parascandola, New York Daily News, 3 Feb. 2026
Zohran Mamdani and Rama Duwaji canvassing for the reëlection of State Assembly member Sarahana Shreshta in the Hudson Valley, June, 2024.
—Molly Fischer, New Yorker, 21 Jan. 2026
Hill filed the lawsuit against Rose and Orlando’s canvassing board about a week after the election.
—Ryan Gillespie, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 Jan. 2026
Detectives canvassing the neighborhood learned Arechiga had been seen at the residence earlier in the day.
—Sydney Barragan, Oc Register, 9 Jan. 2026
Sarah Lynch Baldwin, CBS News, 9 Feb. 2026
Detectives are canvassing the neighborhood, reviewing surveillance footage and analyzing digital data, including cellphone information, according to Arizona police.
—Marley Malenfant, Austin American Statesman, 5 Feb. 2026
Local and federal authorities are canvassing nearby residences and businesses for any security camera footage that may assist in identifying a possible suspect, a law enforcement source familiar with the investigation told CNN.
—Josh Campbell, CNN Money, 4 Feb. 2026
There are other centers and forwards on the market, too, and the Wild are canvassing their options.
—Joe Smith, New York Times, 4 Feb. 2026
But by the time cops were distributing her image, her worried parents had realized that the child wandered off and had begun canvassing the neighborhood for her.
—Rocco Parascandola, New York Daily News, 3 Feb. 2026
Zohran Mamdani and Rama Duwaji canvassing for the reëlection of State Assembly member Sarahana Shreshta in the Hudson Valley, June, 2024.
—Molly Fischer, New Yorker, 21 Jan. 2026
Hill filed the lawsuit against Rose and Orlando’s canvassing board about a week after the election.
—Ryan Gillespie, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 Jan. 2026
Detectives canvassing the neighborhood learned Arechiga had been seen at the residence earlier in the day.
—Sydney Barragan, Oc Register, 9 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for canvassing
Verb
-
Ed has covered pop music for The Republic since 2007, reviewing festivals and concerts, interviewing legends, covering the local scene and more.—
Ed Masley,
AZCentral.com,
12 Feb. 2026
-
Detectives are interviewing witnesses to gather additional information about the shooting, according to the statement.—
Bella Monaco,
Dallas Morning News,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
After all, the story is so endlessly compelling that people are still discussing and dissecting it 200 years later.—
Angelique Jackson,
Variety,
13 Feb. 2026
-
Some of the emails exchanged between Epstein and Tisch appeared to show the two discussing women, in one instance in a rather explicit manner.—
Ryan Morik,
FOXNews.com,
12 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
These traits make biodrones suitable for inspecting pipelines, surveying industrial zones, monitoring power lines, or supporting search and rescue missions in hard-to-reach locations.—
Sujita Sinha,
Interesting Engineering,
10 Feb. 2026
-
Amazon employees can be seen surveying the scene in the clip.—
Amaris Encinas,
USA Today,
7 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The Florida House of Representatives is debating legislation that would require local governments to allow single-family homeowners to build accessory dwelling units — commonly known as efficiencies or granny flats — on their properties.—
Max Klaver,
Miami Herald,
7 Feb. 2026
-
Join Richard Sher’s panel with Vatz, Catalina Byrd, Jimmy Mathis and Barry Gogel debating the continuing feud between Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott and State’s Attorney Ivan Bates.—
Bill Wachsberger,
Baltimore Sun,
7 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Generally, the judges who’ve released detainees say the federal government is wrongly arguing that a statute that historically applied to migrants caught at the border can be applied to anyone seeking to gain legal status to remain in the United States.—
Cristóbal Reyes,
The Orlando Sentinel,
13 Feb. 2026
-
In 2014, the New York Times published a six-part series arguing for a repeal on the federal marijuana ban, comparing the government’s treatment of cannabis to the prohibition on alcohol in the 1920s.—
Elaine Mallon,
Baltimore Sun,
13 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Canvassing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/canvassing. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
