as in branches
a major outgrowth from the main stem of a woody plant
a tree bough fell on my car during the windstorm
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Recent Examples of boughs
The day was otherwise cheerful; sunshine dappled through evergreen boughs.
—
Scott Eden, Rolling Stone, 1 Feb. 2026
Then use dead leaves, small boughs, or wood chips to fill in open spaces and make the bottom layer roughly level with the stump.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 31 Jan. 2026
Laying the boughs over perennial beds for the winter to afford them protection from cold and wind.
—David Beaulieu, The Spruce, 8 Jan. 2026
Spray the underside of the branches, focusing on the cut ends of the boughs, Hunter says, because that’s where the moisture can be absorbed the fastest.
—Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 18 Dec. 2025
Saturnalia, in honor of the sun god, Saturn, included decorating homes with evergreen boughs, wreaths and garlands to symbolize renewal.
—Scott Neuman, NPR, 17 Dec. 2025
Gleaming in the boughs were pearlescent apples.
—Bailey Richards, PEOPLE, 11 Dec. 2025
For example, forest scents have long been synonymous with winter and its holiday traditions, as Christmas trees, wreaths, and pine boughs signal calm and comfort during a season of rest.
—Paul Nicolaus, Outside, 22 Nov. 2025
All the snow resting on their upper boughs began to melt in big wet drops, soaking the dry earth below.
—Hazlitt, 19 Nov. 2025
Scott Eden, Rolling Stone, 1 Feb. 2026
Then use dead leaves, small boughs, or wood chips to fill in open spaces and make the bottom layer roughly level with the stump.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 31 Jan. 2026
Laying the boughs over perennial beds for the winter to afford them protection from cold and wind.
—David Beaulieu, The Spruce, 8 Jan. 2026
Spray the underside of the branches, focusing on the cut ends of the boughs, Hunter says, because that’s where the moisture can be absorbed the fastest.
—Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 18 Dec. 2025
Saturnalia, in honor of the sun god, Saturn, included decorating homes with evergreen boughs, wreaths and garlands to symbolize renewal.
—Scott Neuman, NPR, 17 Dec. 2025
Gleaming in the boughs were pearlescent apples.
—Bailey Richards, PEOPLE, 11 Dec. 2025
For example, forest scents have long been synonymous with winter and its holiday traditions, as Christmas trees, wreaths, and pine boughs signal calm and comfort during a season of rest.
—Paul Nicolaus, Outside, 22 Nov. 2025
All the snow resting on their upper boughs began to melt in big wet drops, soaking the dry earth below.
—Hazlitt, 19 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for boughs
Noun
-
But, as JPMorgan notes, those innovations allowed banks to open more branches, increasing employment overall.—
Allison Morrow,
CNN Money,
2 Mar. 2026
-
The branches of the tree were festooned with protest banners, wooden crates, and homemade art.—
Robert Moor,
New Yorker,
2 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Some clients had disabilities, including vision impairment, hearing impairment, prosthetic limbs, and various medical conditions.—
Maya Silver,
Outside,
25 Feb. 2026
-
Tree limbs could be blown down and a few power outages may result.—
Bay Area Weather Report,
Mercury News,
24 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Boughs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/boughs. Accessed 4 Mar. 2026.
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