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
Tangled charging cords and rummaging through your bag mid-flight are problems this little organizer pouch completely eliminates.
—
Chaise Sanders, Travel + Leisure, 29 Apr. 2026
Clip-On Earrings When rummaging through a grandmother's jewelry box, you're almost guaranteed to stumble upon a pair of clip-on earrings.
—Nicole Letts, Southern Living, 27 Apr. 2026
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
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
Chaise Sanders, Travel + Leisure, 29 Apr. 2026
Clip-On Earrings When rummaging through a grandmother's jewelry box, you're almost guaranteed to stumble upon a pair of clip-on earrings.
—Nicole Letts, Southern Living, 27 Apr. 2026
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rummaging
Verb
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For Yeon, the decision to revisit zombies wasn’t about retreading familiar ground but finding the right vessel for exploring modern anxieties.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
16 May 2026
-
The next step is finding a place to meet in the middle and clarify what’s unsaid or unclear on both sides.—
R. Eric Thomas,
Chicago Tribune,
15 May 2026
Verb
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As police were searching for a suspect inside the Islamic center, dispatchers got calls that a landscaper may have been shot at blocks away, Wahl said.—
Dennis Romero,
NBC news,
19 May 2026
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This was not an adequate explanation, and the woman was now looking back over her shoulder, as if searching for help.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
19 May 2026
Verb
-
Cannes, after all, has always prided itself on discovering and nurturing new talent — and pushing the envelope of what cinema both is and can be.—
Christopher Vourlias,
Variety,
15 May 2026
-
For Birmingham, that means discovering what Alabama’s second-largest city really offers—especially its quietly stellar food scene that’s been racking up James Beard nominations.—
AFAR Media,
AFAR Media,
15 May 2026
Verb
-
Work with that element of chance because learning to enjoy embracing—working with it—is fun and fun isn’t logical, and logic isn’t always your ally in that initial stage of creation.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
20 May 2026
-
Torn between toiling away at farmwork, his corrective swimming lessons, and learning music from a local organist — the elderly Michel (Alexandre Astier, Clichy’s former directing partner), who shows him more kindness than most — Christophe’s world gradually widens.—
Siddhant Adlakha,
Variety,
19 May 2026
Verb
-
And so there have been no occasions when your security detail had difficulty waking or locating you.—
NBC news,
NBC news,
17 May 2026
-
For assistance locating the SSID, contact the student’s school directly.—
Karen Garcia,
Los Angeles Times,
13 May 2026
Verb
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This housing push doesn’t have to do with the construction of new housing as much as getting tenants in the door, which might seem like an odd issue to have in a city with as acute of a housing demand as New York.—
New York Daily News Editorial Board,
New York Daily News,
15 May 2026
-
Short but sweet Jacksonville took advantage of perhaps the most famous offseason haircut with quarterback Trevor Lawrence getting his long locks cut short on camera after introducing the Jaguars’ schedule that then plays out on the screen edited down to less than 2 minutes.—
Teresa M. Walker,
Chicago Tribune,
15 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Rummaging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rummaging. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
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