loam

noun

Definition of loamnext
as in topsoil
a type of soil that is good for growing plants

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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 loam But the conflict between Joe and Ted goes back further and is rooted in a deep loam of backstory that emerges bit by bit. — Richard Brody, New Yorker, 5 Sep. 2025 Asparagus prefers soil with plenty of organic matter, and that's well-drained, with an almost sandy-loam consistency. — Samantha Johnson, Martha Stewart, 23 Feb. 2026 The soils, shaped by glacial activity, consist of sandy loam and glacial till, offering excellent drainage and contributing natural minerality. — Michael Johnson, Twin Cities, 23 Feb. 2026 Soil types include gravel and sedimentary loam closer to the river and volcanic rock distributed on the hillsides, a combination that adds distinct aromas, flavors, and minerality to the wines made here. — Mike Desimone, Robb Report, 9 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for loam
Recent Examples of Synonyms for loam
  1. topsoil
  2. humus
  3. clay
  4. mud
  5. gravel
  6. sand
  7. earth
Noun
  • Its most intense years stretched from roughly 1934 to 1939, when prolonged heat, failed rains and relentless winds stripped topsoil from farms across Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Colorado and New Mexico.
    — Brandi D. Addison, USA Today, 29 June 2026
  • Never cut big roots or pile on topsoil—opt for groundcovers or call a pro if roots threaten structures.
    — Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 24 June 2026
Definition of topsoil
Noun
  • This includes decaying plant and animal residues, humus, and living microorganisms.
    — Rae Ford, Martha Stewart, 8 June 2026
  • Composting in the garden is just a way of speeding up the natural process that creates soil all over the world, as organisms such as bacteria, fungi, insects and earthworms consume dead plants to make humus.
    — Beth Botts, Chicago Tribune, 31 May 2026
Definition of humus
Noun
  • The importance of falling well has only grown as players have adapted movement patterns from clay and hard courts to grass.
    — Charlie Eccleshare, New York Times, 3 July 2026
  • That meant ditching some of the traditional tools used in vehicle design, like the clay models used by car designers since the 1930s.
    — Andrew Staples, Fortune, 3 July 2026
Definition of clay
Noun
  • Doing this reportedly required understanding the molecular structure of mud.
    — Mack DeGeurin, Popular Science, 2 July 2026
  • The pigs that would soon enough become lunch lazed in the compost-pile mud in front of a five-star-hotel-worthy view of the Cretan Sea.
    — Shannon McMahon, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 July 2026
Definition of mud
Noun
  • Dual suspension helps smooth rough trails, hydraulic disc brakes provide dependable stopping power in changing conditions, and four-inch fat tires improve traction across gravel, dirt, sand, and pavement.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 2 July 2026
  • Dogs are allowed with a leash on the outdoor patio and gravel areas.
    — Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 1 July 2026
Definition of gravel
Noun
  • In the Sahel region of Africa, one of the hardest hit by climate hazards, millions of children face the threat of heat and sand and dust storms.
    — Maryanne Murray Buechner, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
  • Dual suspension helps smooth rough trails, hydraulic disc brakes provide dependable stopping power in changing conditions, and four-inch fat tires improve traction across gravel, dirt, sand, and pavement.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 2 July 2026
Definition of sand
Noun
  • Thousands of fans in Mexico lost their minds and shook the earth.
    — Alejandro Avila OutKick, FOXNews.com, 2 July 2026
  • Visitors entering the show don neck rings and wrist bands, the first to add the aromas of earth and flowers to the multi-sensory experience, the second to adjust the visual displays to each person’s emotional response.
    — The Week US, TheWeek, 1 July 2026
Definition of earth

Browse Nearby Words

loafs
loam
loams
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Cite this Entry

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

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More from Merriam-Webster on loam

Nglish: Translation of loam for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about loam

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