fens

noun

plural of fen
as in marshes
spongy land saturated or partially covered with water a day spent trudging through the fens in quest of game birds

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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 fens The Bluff offers a gorgeous view of a section of the Tanana River and the surrounding boglands, ranging from permafrost forests to wet fens to bogs. — Literary Hub, 16 Oct. 2026 The wind reaches the fens of eastern England before the light does, moving over the marshes in long gray sweeps. — Jp Mangalindan, Time, 11 Sep. 2026 Poison sumac is typically found in fens and indicates wet soil, MSU said. — Sarah Moore, Freep.com, 10 July 2026 Bogs and fens are areas that accumulate peat – deposits of dead and partly decomposed plant materials that form organic-rich soil. — Jon Sweetman, The Conversation, 30 Sep. 2022
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fens
  1. marshes
  2. wetlands
  3. swamps
Noun
  • Coastal development can also prevent marshes from migrating inland as tides rise, resulting in habitat loss.
    — Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Flores owns a private island in Louisiana’s marshes called Little Pecan.
    — Rachel Nostrant, Houston Chronicle, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of marshes
Noun
  • The Mescalero Apache traditionally lived on hills above the creeks and wetlands to avoid rising water and mosquitoes, Walsh Padilla said.
    — Abe Streep, ProPublica, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Flooding recreates the wetlands that once spread across much of California’s Sacramento Valley.
    — Ryan Brennan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of wetlands
Noun
  • Hilly woods or swamps with lots of folds, ditches, and creeks are best for ground hunting.
    — Colin Moore, Outdoor Life, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Staying safe from alligators in Florida Alligators have inhabited Florida's marshes, swamps, rivers and lakes for centuries and are found in all of Florida's 67 counties.
    — Steven Yablonski, CBS News, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of swamps

Browse Nearby Words

fends (off)
fens
feral
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Fens.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fens. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of grotesque

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Why do we 'bury the lede?'

'Za' and 9 Other Words to Help You Win at SCRABBLE
See More

Popular

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
different halloween monsters in silhouette
A Monstrous Vocab Quiz Words That Go Bump in the Night
See All