as in estuaries
a part of a body of water that extends beyond the general shoreline
in his biography of Samuel Johnson, James Boswell tells of being conducted by a Scottish boatman "across one of the lochs, as they call them, or arms of the sea"
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Recent Examples of lochs
Created by sculptor Andy Scott, the kelpies — shape-shifting mythical creatures from Scottish folklore that live in the country's famous lochs — were completed in 2013.
—
Meredith Kile, PEOPLE, 20 Jan. 2026
The stones stand between two lochs on the largest of the Orkney Islands, off the northeastern tip of mainland Scotland.
—Alex Ross, New Yorker, 24 Nov. 2025
What with its rippling mountains, meditative lochs, and misty woodlands, Scotland’s moody atmosphere hits its stride in the cooler seasons.
—Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 12 Oct. 2025
Donal, a nightclub owner in Chicago obsessed with the blues, has resisted going back to the land of lochs for reasons that will become only somewhat clear over the course of the run time.
—Esther Zuckerman, IndieWire, 11 Sep. 2025
Meredith Kile, PEOPLE, 20 Jan. 2026
The stones stand between two lochs on the largest of the Orkney Islands, off the northeastern tip of mainland Scotland.
—Alex Ross, New Yorker, 24 Nov. 2025
What with its rippling mountains, meditative lochs, and misty woodlands, Scotland’s moody atmosphere hits its stride in the cooler seasons.
—Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 12 Oct. 2025
Donal, a nightclub owner in Chicago obsessed with the blues, has resisted going back to the land of lochs for reasons that will become only somewhat clear over the course of the run time.
—Esther Zuckerman, IndieWire, 11 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lochs
Noun
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The crab-eating frog (Fejervarya cancrivora) lives in mangroves, coastal swamps and estuaries across Southeast Asia.—
Scott Travers,
Forbes.com,
22 Jan. 2026
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Get On The Water Matlacha is surrounded by mangroves and estuaries full of wildlife like dolphins, rays, and manatees.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
11 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Cruise around the Halifax Harbour on Little Wing, the hotel’s 36-foot yacht, or venture through nearby coves and bays aboard Reach, the Muir’s high-speed 24-foot motorboat.—
Carolyn Heller,
Forbes.com,
22 Jan. 2026
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The blaze was initially confined to three bays within the massive 100,000-square-foot facility, but high winds spread burning embers throughout the building, leading to damage in 10 of the warehouse’s 25 bays, Woods told reporters at the scene.—
Colin Mixson,
New York Daily News,
21 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Although Bullhead City is a smaller fishing port, the waters still have high fish activity and coves for secluded fishing on the Colorado River.—
Paige Moore,
AZCentral.com,
22 Jan. 2026
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Cruise around the Halifax Harbour on Little Wing, the hotel’s 36-foot yacht, or venture through nearby coves and bays aboard Reach, the Muir’s high-speed 24-foot motorboat.—
Carolyn Heller,
Forbes.com,
22 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Lochs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lochs. Accessed 30 Jan. 2026.
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