canvassing

variants also canvasing
present participle of canvass
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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2

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 Concern for homeless New Yorkers during heat wave New York City has deployed teams to begin citywide canvassing to identify people experiencing homelessness to get them into shelters or cooling centers to escape triple-digit temperatures. Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 3 July 2026 Mamdani’s initiative, called Organize NYC, aims to keep the grassroots momentum of his campaign going by getting people to sign up for canvassing shifts across the five boroughs. Josephine Stratman, New York Daily News, 26 June 2026 Detectives were canvassing the scene overnight for witnesses and were talking to people at the scene when officers arrived. Nathan Pilling, Kansas City Star, 20 June 2026 Police were seen canvassing the area on Tuesday, talking to neighbors. Alysia Burgio, CBS News, 16 June 2026 Police used drones to search the woods to no avail on Friday, and officers were back canvassing the area on Monday. Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 15 June 2026 At about the time Cofer was wrapping up in the Fruitridge area, Guerra was canvassing in East Sacramento. Theresa Clift, Sacbee.com, 3 June 2026 Once the fire was contained, Russ said, fire crews put a drone in the air to start canvassing the area for rescue operations. Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 May 2026 According to a league source, Boston’s front office has been making calls and canvasing the league to see what might be available. Jen McCaffrey, New York Times, 23 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for canvassing
Verb
  • Don’t worry about getting a celebrity or interviewing someone famous.
    Colleen Batchelder, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026
  • But her strongest assets were her human instincts, her news judgment, her skilled interviewing techniques and shoe-leather reporting.
    Jeff McDonald, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 July 2026
Verb
  • Such methods can be more convenient than consulting websites or discussing such issues with a friend, neighbor or faith leader.
    Marc Ramirez, USA Today, 3 July 2026
  • The dour feeling that this book produces is the exact opposite of the invigorating excitement that Scorsese conveys when discussing movie magic.
    Michael O’Donnell, The Atlantic, 2 July 2026
Verb
  • The British established control of Florida after the French and Indian War but left little lasting footprint in what is now Miami beyond surveying the region and developing plans for future settlement.
    Hank Tester, CBS News, 1 July 2026
  • Killian is part of a group surveying PE teachers about the amount of physical activity opportunities available in their schools.
    Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 1 July 2026
Verb
  • Lawyers are increasingly debating the role of outside investment in law firms, alternative business structures, multidisciplinary practices, and the growing influence of technology companies and private capital on the delivery of legal services.
    Joseph Andrew, Forbes.com, 4 July 2026
  • The other was Michael Longfellow’s sketch about a guy dying at the top of a waterslide and debating whether he should be pushed down the slide or carried down the stairs, which was the only thing Bargatze kept talking about all week.
    Jesse David Fox, Vulture, 4 July 2026
Verb
  • In 2022, Kroger announced a plan to merge with rival Albertsons, arguing that a larger chain would be better able to compete against rivals.
    Michelle Chapman, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2026
  • The Department of Justice on Thursday declined to turn over additional information from the Epstein files as ordered by a judge, arguing the materials include sensitive victim information or were appropriately redacted as required by law.
    Peter Charalambous, ABC News, 2 July 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Canvassing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/canvassing. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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