loam

noun

Definition of loamnext
as in topsoil
a type of soil that is good for growing plants

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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 loam Is the soil a porous, well-draining loam, or a rocky clay that will be hard to dig in and harder to drain? — Anthony Reardon, Kansas City Star, 25 Feb. 2026 Asparagus prefers soil with plenty of organic matter, and that's well-drained, with an almost sandy-loam consistency. — Samantha Johnson, Martha Stewart, 23 Feb. 2026 The soils, shaped by glacial activity, consist of sandy loam and glacial till, offering excellent drainage and contributing natural minerality. — Michael Johnson, Twin Cities, 23 Feb. 2026 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 See All Example Sentences for loam
Recent Examples of Synonyms for loam
  1. topsoil
  2. humus
  3. clay
  4. mud
  5. gravel
  6. sand
  7. earth
Noun
  • Rainfall then travels across the surface faster, carrying valuable topsoil into waterways and increasing pressure on drainage infrastructure.
    — Mark Trebilcock, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Nov. 2026
  • Water snakes prefer the wetlands, riverbanks, lakes, and streams, and tiny species like flathead snakes are more likely to push through topsoil, mulch, and damp earth, rather than burrow underground.
    — Louise Parks, Martha Stewart, 7 Nov. 2026
Definition of topsoil
Noun
  • In garden beds, a light layer of shredded leaves acts as natural mulch, insulating roots and conserving soil moisture while breaking down into humus over time.
    — Pam Rosendal, Denver Post, 27 Sep. 2026
  • Plant seeds in neutral, well-draining soil rich with humus, and give it an inch of water per week.
    — The Spruce, The Spruce, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of humus
Noun
  • Brewing in clay helps maintain aroma longer, and the valve into the base of the dripper allows more gentle oxygenation according to Alfaro.
    — Noah Kaufman, Bon Appetit Magazine, 7 Nov. 2026
  • An 1840 stint at the Harvard Library led to the insight that mixing finely ground clay with graphite would allow Thoreau Pencils to be graded from soft to hard.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 6 Nov. 2026
Definition of clay
Noun
  • Nearly a week later, her green Pontiac was found stuck in the mud off a road in rural Coolspring Township.
    — Meredith Colias-Pete, Chicago Tribune, 10 Nov. 2026
  • For days, volunteers worked side by side, clearing debris, moving mud and trying to redirect the water to protect homes and restore access to the neighborhood.
    — Sarah Horbacewicz, CBS News, 9 Nov. 2026
Definition of mud
Noun
  • Theodore Roosevelt of New York and Foster Voorhees of New Jersey joined forces to stop quarry crews from blasting the cliffs into gravel.
    — Remy Schwartz, New York Daily News, 13 Nov. 2026
  • At lunchtime and in the evenings, its covered gravel patio with 13 tables draws a full crowd of parents with young kids and a few older folks, most of whom Donner has gotten to know quite well.
    — Heidi Finley, Charlotte Observer, 11 Nov. 2026
Definition of gravel
Noun
  • Soft blues and creams mirror the sea and sand visible through sliding glass doors, while natural wood finishes ground the spaces in their island setting.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Nov. 2026
  • Surgeonfish and fusiliers swarm through the current while schools of tuna flicker silver in the distance, and a boxfish the size of a small suitcase hovers awkwardly over the black sand.
    — Avantika Chaturvedi, Travel + Leisure, 9 Nov. 2026
Definition of sand
Noun
  • In the Dreamtime, the Waugyl (Rainbow Serpent) moved across the earth, carving out rivers and mountains—not a god, just how our culture explains creation, without religion as it’s commonly understood.
    — Liam Freeman, Vogue, 11 Nov. 2026
  • The heatwave is, of course, being felt across the whole of Middle-earth.
    — Alex Ritman, Variety, 10 Nov. 2026
Definition of earth

Browse Nearby Words

loafs
loam
loams
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Cite this Entry

“Loam.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/loam. Accessed 15 Nov. 2026.

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Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about loam

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