terra firma

noun

ˌter-ə-ˈfər-mə How to pronounce terra firma (audio)
Definition of terra firmanext
as in soil
the solid part of our planet's surface as distinguished from the sea and air after that nightmarish storm, the sailors were grateful to reach terra firma

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 terra firma Yet the sensation of a work that, in translation from one medium to another, no longer defies gravity but sort of roughly plummets back down to terra firma can’t easily be shaken off. — David Fear, Rolling Stone, 18 Nov. 2025 On terra firma, most of the available supply of helium-3 comes as a by-product of nuclear weaponry via the radioactive decay of tritium, a rare isotope of hydrogen that boosts the power of thermonuclear bombs. — Robin George Andrews, Scientific American, 14 May 2026 Those folks at Six Flags Fiesta Texas in San Antonio were only dangling 200 feet above terra firma for ten minutes, but for this hombre, that’s ten minutes too many. — Matt Reigle Outkick, FOXNews.com, 1 May 2026 Her leadership has been just as essential on terra firma, guiding SpaceX in its recent acquisition of xAI as well as the April announcement of its IPO. — Arianna Huffington, Time, 15 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for terra firma
Recent Examples of Synonyms for terra firma
  1. soil
  2. land
  3. ground
  4. earth
Noun
  • The family fought for three hours last July Fourth to stay alive after more than a summer’s worth of rain fell overnight on bone-dry soil, pushing the waterway from about 3 feet to 30 feet in just 45 minutes.
    — Alisha Ebrahimji, CNN Money, 6 July 2026
  • The animals damage agricultural land, consume native vegetation, contribute to soil erosion and compete with livestock for forage.
    — Amber Harding OutKick, FOXNews.com, 5 July 2026
Definition of soil
Noun
  • The oppressive heat wave lands at the same time the nation is observing 250 years since our Declaration of Independence was approved by the Continental Congress.
    — Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 3 July 2026
  • The transfer of 136 acres just south of the community of Westport will mark the first time land managed by the California Department of Transportation has been returned to Indigenous tribes.
    — Alex Wigglesworth, Los Angeles Times, 3 July 2026
Definition of land
Noun
  • Since its inception, social media has been a proving ground for tween fashion and identity, offering under-16s a digital canvas to experiment with their style and form online cliques around niche interests.
    — Sophie Lou Wilson, Vogue, 2 July 2026
  • During the huge Round of 32 knockout showdown, packed crowds inside the legendary Estadio Azteca generated enough ground movement to trigger local seismic monitoring equipment.
    — Alejandro Avila OutKick, FOXNews.com, 2 July 2026
Definition of ground
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

terraces
terra firma
terrain
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Cite this Entry

“Terra firma.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/terra%20firma. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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