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 Is the soil a porous, well-draining loam, or a rocky clay that will be hard to dig in and harder to drain? — Anthony Reardon, Kansas City Star, 25 Feb. 2026 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 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 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
  • Crews are working six days a week on sod installation, new topsoil installation, aeration, seeding and other turf restoration, organizers said.
    — Sara Tenenbaum, CBS News, 8 Oct. 2026
  • But when drought struck Oklahoma and surrounding states, as drought regularly did, the topsoil dried out and blew away.
    — Daniel Immerwahr, New Yorker, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of topsoil
Noun
  • In garden beds, a light layer of shredded leaves acts as natural mulch, insulating roots and conserving soil moisture while breaking down into humus over time.
    — Pam Rosendal, Denver Post, 27 Sep. 2026
  • Plant seeds in neutral, well-draining soil rich with humus, and give it an inch of water per week.
    — The Spruce, The Spruce, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of humus
Noun
  • Workers then lower these containers into bedrock shafts, surrounding them with swellable bentonite clay to absorb moisture and block movement.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 23 Oct. 2026
  • The actors interacted with clay during the presentation, building large feet, hands and noses before turning the stage over to athletes who wore the brand and gyrated around the space and performed gymnastics-style moves on a rack.
    — Jean E. Palmieri, Footwear News, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of clay
Noun
  • The former taxi driver had been arrested three years earlier after police unearthed a mass grave in a forest ‌near the Indian Ocean town of Malindi, where his followers had been living in mud huts.
    — Latoya Gayle, PEOPLE, 20 Oct. 2026
  • In 2023, more than 400 bodies were exhumed from shallow graves on the 800-acre Chakama Ranch in coastal Kilifi County, where Mackenzie’s followers lived in mud huts, away from the scrutiny of local communities and authorities.
    — Evelyne Musambi, Los Angeles Times, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of mud
Noun
  • On lap forty-nine, at the first chicane, Antonelli’s car narrowly missed Russell’s and swung off the course and into the gravel.
    — Sam Knight, New Yorker, 22 Oct. 2026
  • On muddy gravel between the smokestacks and the water, a forklift held what looked like an enormous sack of sand.
    — Alec Luhn, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of gravel
Noun
  • On muddy gravel between the smokestacks and the water, a forklift held what looked like an enormous sack of sand.
    — Alec Luhn, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026
  • Without natural sand reaching the beaches, high tides and large surf have resulted in entire beaches being covered with water, cutting off access.
    — Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of sand
Noun
  • But the One Ring — the weapon that will reshape Middle-earth — is the true star, and the new peek at the third season revels in its creation.
    — Deborah Day, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2026
  • There is no working alternative to Starlink, which has put a massive constellation of low-earth satellites into orbit, and no direct competitor comes close.
    — Jennifer Jacobs, CBS News, 21 Oct. 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 28 Oct. 2026.

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Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about loam

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