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
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
Burnt soil has obviously lost any mulch that had been present as well as the layer of decomposing organic material or humus just below it.
—Joshua Siskin, Orange County Register, 8 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for humus
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
Burnt soil has obviously lost any mulch that had been present as well as the layer of decomposing organic material or humus just below it.
—Joshua Siskin, Orange County Register, 8 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for humus
Recent Examples of Synonyms for humus
Noun
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Sandy soil is more prone to hydrophobia than loam or clay.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
18 Oct. 2025
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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
Noun
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Cosey has welcomed archaeological teams from Mississippi State University to her property, digging for the stories buried beneath the topsoil.—
Joe Sills,
Forbes.com,
30 Jan. 2026
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Water deeply when topsoil dries.—
Michelle Mastro,
Martha Stewart,
17 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Geopolymer technology can be adapted depending on the clay or industrial waste locally available in a region.—
Alcina Johnson Sudagar,
The Conversation,
12 Feb. 2026
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Avoid terra-cotta pots for moisture-loving plants like ferns, Venus flytraps, and peace lilies since the porous clay dries out the soil quickly.—
Sarah Lyon,
The Spruce,
11 Feb. 2026
Noun
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While there is no on-site fitness center, Inns of Aurora has gym equipment in a nearby building known as the Schoolhouse, along with all sorts of outdoor gear such as snowshoes, mud boots, and other items to borrow (or have delivered to your suite).—
Paul Brady,
Travel + Leisure,
10 Feb. 2026
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She’s learned to conceive her pieces considering that in his movies real water, mud, snow and fake blood might be in play.—
Carlos Aguilar,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Humus.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/humus. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
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