as in to exhume
to remove from place of burial unearthed a hoard of treasures from the Egyptian tomb

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb unearth contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of unearth are ascertain, determine, discover, and learn. While all these words mean "to find out what one did not previously know," unearth implies bringing to light something forgotten or hidden.

unearth old records

When is ascertain a more appropriate choice than unearth?

The words ascertain and unearth are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, ascertain implies effort to find the facts or the truth proceeding from awareness of ignorance or uncertainty.

attempts to ascertain the population of the region

When can determine be used instead of unearth?

While the synonyms determine and unearth are close in meaning, determine emphasizes the intent to establish the facts definitely or precisely.

unable to determine the origin of the word

When might discover be a better fit than unearth?

Although the words discover and unearth have much in common, discover may apply to something requiring exploration or investigation or to a chance encounter.

discovered the source of the river

When would learn be a good substitute for unearth?

While in some cases nearly identical to unearth, learn may imply acquiring knowledge with little effort or conscious intention (as by simply being told) or it may imply study and practice.

I learned her name only today
learning Greek

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 unearth Elon Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency has unearthed far too much evidence of this in DC and beyond. Boston Herald Editorial Staff, Boston Herald, 11 Apr. 2025 Archaeologists recently unearthed the altar in a quarter of the Maya city of Tikal that had lain buried under dirt and rubble for about the last 1,500 years. ArsTechnica, 10 Apr. 2025 Inside every cairn, the team unearthed countless human and animal bones, often fragmented. Aspen Pflughoeft, Miami Herald, 28 Mar. 2025 Pounding the pavement to rummage for vintage treasure is inherent to unearthing the rare and one-of-a-kind pieces that celebrity stylists, editors, and fashion-loving brides-to-be seek her out for. Talia Abbas, Vogue, 28 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for unearth
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unearth
Verb
  • The remains were exhumed in September 2023 and transferred to the DPAA laboratory.
    Kerry Breen, CBS News, 18 Apr. 2025
  • Meanwhile, Atkinson’s first head coaching gig was exhuming the Brooklyn Nets from the bottom of the East River.
    Jason Lloyd, New York Times, 11 Apr. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Unearth.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unearth. Accessed 2 May. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on unearth

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!