troughs

noun

plural of trough
1
as in pipes
a long hollow cylinder for carrying a substance (as a liquid or gas) all of the wiring for the converted residential loft is concealed in a vertical trough

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in ditches
a long narrow channel dug in the earth I slid and fell into the trough by the side of the road, scraping my leg

Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in gutters
a pipe or channel for carrying off water from a roof the troughs on the eaves of the house were clogged with leaves

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 troughs Wooden ladder planters with zinc troughs provide an easy way to achieve vertical gardening in small spaces such as patios. — Midwest Living, 22 Apr. 2026 Peaks, troughs, breaks, beginnings, and endings shape the quality of decisions. — Gerald J. Leonard, Forbes.com, 15 May 2026 Stock tanks, also called cattle troughs, are essentially giant metal water bowls for livestock. — Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Feb. 2026 Gass said a series of upper-level troughs are expected to influence the region through the week, keeping the temperatures from climbing higher. — Rick Hurd, Mercury News, 12 Apr. 2026 Producers are looking at factors like cost of labor combined with the time and material costs of driving around to check wells or troughs — areas where Ranchbot might be able to lend an assist. — Lana Ferguson, Dallas Morning News, 25 Feb. 2026 Conversely, major troughs in the jetstream will form on either side of that giant ridge, one in the Pacific Northwest and another right over New England. — Terry Eliasen, CBS News, 28 May 2026 Possible mosquito breeding areas can include fish ponds, swimming pools, spas, standing water, tree holes, containers, bird baths, roof gutters, pet water bowls, street gutters, wading pools and watering troughs. — Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 11 May 2026 Her seventh novel follows longtime friends Laura Miller and Edmund Putnam, both languishing in personal and professional troughs. — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 6 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for troughs
  1. pipes
  2. ditches
  3. gutters
  4. conduits
  5. trenches
  6. tubes
  7. ravines
  8. channels
Noun
  • Its tendency to rapidly reproduce, forming dense colonies on underwater surfaces, can clog pipes, pumps and critical water infrastructure while disrupting local ecosystems.
    — Reeti Malhotra, Sacbee.com, 4 July 2026
  • Because Paris’ existing sewers, built during Haussmann’s 19th-century modernization of the city, combine rainwater and wastewater in the same pipes, heavy rain has always sent the overflow straight into the river.
    — Camille Knight, CNN Money, 4 July 2026
Definition of pipes
Noun
  • But the gold seekers, the ‘49ers, immediately set to digging ditches and canals to divert water, and so the new state soon allowed that practice, too.
    — Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2026
  • Police and fire rescue experts say this is also serves a reminder to always wear personal flotation devices in and around rivers, creeks, ditches and lakes.
    — Dillon Thomas, CBS News, 4 June 2026
Definition of ditches
Noun
  • Residents, meanwhile, can help the town’s efforts by reducing standing water around their homes, keeping their lawns mowed and trimmed, keeping rain barrels covered or screened, and cleaning their gutters regularly to prevent accumulated water.
    — Michelle L. Quinn, Chicago Tribune, 29 June 2026
  • Clean gutters and drains, inspect roofs for loose or damaged materials, trim trees and secure outdoor furniture and decorations.
    — Stephen Hauptman, Sun Sentinel, 28 June 2026
Definition of gutters
Noun
  • But the outlets require frequent inspections and maintenance when used continuously, which means that one of the four conduits will routinely be offline.
    — Elise Schmelzer, Denver Post, 21 June 2026
  • The Del Mar City Council approved a resolution June 2 setting a June 3 deadline for properties in Work Zone 1 of undergrounding District x1A, which includes San Dieguito Drive and Orbita Road, for property owners to install lateral conduits.
    — Luke Harold, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 June 2026
Definition of conduits
Noun
  • The incident happened after two trenches collapsed in Oakland County in the last 24 hours.
    — DeJanay Booth-Singleton, CBS News, 2 July 2026
  • All night long there was the ringing clatter of picks and shovels; the Germans were digging trenches in the frozen ground.
    — Vasily Grossman, Harpers Magazine, 30 June 2026
Definition of trenches
Noun
  • The oxygen released in the tank then flows through four silicone supply tubes that are attached to the roach’s spiracles prior to the operation.
    — Mack DeGeurin, Popular Science, 1 July 2026
  • Among the photos were ones of the supermodel admiring the view outside her hospital window and one with tubes taped to her neck and head.
    — Emily Blackwood, PEOPLE, 30 June 2026
Definition of tubes
Noun
  • The gardens were developed in the 1930s on a site featuring natural ravines, now crossed by suspension bridges and laced with trails.
    — Elizabeth Rhodes, Travel + Leisure, 23 June 2026
  • The face of the moon never looks the same from one night to the next, as the shifting angle between the moon and sun causes sunlight to sweep across its surface, altering the shadows cast by craters, mountain ranges and ravines.
    — Anthony Wood, Space.com, 23 May 2026
Definition of ravines
Noun
  • Something had to be done — and spinning off the cable channels into a new company called Versant wouldn’t cut it.
    — Samantha Masunaga, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2026
  • Spanish language speakers can access matches with Spanish commentary on Telemundo or Universo, NBC’s Spanish-language cable channels.
    — Reeti Malhotra, Sacbee.com, 6 July 2026
Definition of channels

Browse Nearby Words

trough
troughs
trounce
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Cite this Entry

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

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More from Merriam-Webster on troughs

Nglish: Translation of troughs for Spanish Speakers

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