as in loam
a brown or black material in soil that is formed when plants and animals decay
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Recent Examples of humus
Brunch might mean a humus bowl layered with lamb and pickled onion, or a shakshuka made with black lime tomato stew.
—
Rai Mincey, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Unless the compost is fully broken down into humus, this incorporation will also work organic matter into the soil, which helps with aeration and further supports microorganisms.
—Anthony Reardon, Kansas City Star, 25 July 2025
Closer and closer, the aroma draws me like a magnet…sun on granite, black humus, balsam fir, and a faint whiff of yellow birch smoke.
—Literary Hub, 2 June 2025
Collectively, these leftovers become part of the humus of the soil, helping retain water and support soil-dwelling microbes, invertebrates and roots.
—Katarina Zimmer, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for humus
Rai Mincey, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Unless the compost is fully broken down into humus, this incorporation will also work organic matter into the soil, which helps with aeration and further supports microorganisms.
—Anthony Reardon, Kansas City Star, 25 July 2025
Closer and closer, the aroma draws me like a magnet…sun on granite, black humus, balsam fir, and a faint whiff of yellow birch smoke.
—Literary Hub, 2 June 2025
Collectively, these leftovers become part of the humus of the soil, helping retain water and support soil-dwelling microbes, invertebrates and roots.
—Katarina Zimmer, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for humus
Recent Examples of Synonyms for humus
Noun
-
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
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The bushy tropical plant does best in a mix of loam and sand, and prefers partial shade in very hot climates.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
10 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Use The Right Potting Medium Fill containers with a high-quality potting mix rather than gardening soil or topsoil, which can contain weeds, fungi, and harmful insects.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
19 Apr. 2026
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Even the coarsest topsoil, something that would be magical in a vegetable garden, is way to fine-grained to adequately drain if used in a container.—
Paul Cappiello,
Louisville Courier Journal,
17 Apr. 2026
Noun
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There’s an energy in those rooms — messy, focused, and alive — as students mix paint colors, shape clay, and debate whether a line should be thicker or thinner.—
Gale Brewer,
New York Daily News,
17 Apr. 2026
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That’s why a fine textured soil, like clay, drains more poorly than does a coarse, sandy soil.—
Paul Cappiello,
Louisville Courier Journal,
17 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Even if the themes of the lyrics are similar, the wide-eyed intensity, and even rage, suggest there is more to her perspective than a desire to sink into the mud of modern life.—
Colin Joyce,
Pitchfork,
21 Apr. 2026
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In January, a ValuJet DC-9 got stuck in the mud at Hartsfield Atlanta International Airport.—
Miami Herald Archives,
Miami Herald,
21 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Humus.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/humus. Accessed 23 Apr. 2026.
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