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"
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Recent Examples of lochs
The sprawling coastal property encompasses roughly 3,700 acres of pastureland, woodlands, lochs, and more than three miles of dramatic shoreline.
—
Abby Montanez,
Robb Report,
11 June 2026
Covering roughly 260 kilometers from Glasgow to the west coast of Scotland, the West Highland Line is one of the most beautiful routes in the world, offering an ever-changing landscape of rugged mountains, mirror-like lochs, and remote moorlands.
—
Taryn White,
Travel + Leisure,
18 May 2026
The mammals thrive across habitats from inland rivers and lochs to rugged coastal environments.
—
Samantha Agate,
Miami Herald,
21 Apr. 2026
Located on the shores of Loch Linnhe, one of 31,000 freshwater lochs in Scotland, Fort William sits in the shadow of Ben Nevis, at 4,490 feet the highest peak in Britain.
—
Patti Nickell,
Boston Herald,
15 Feb. 2026
Curling is a game of tradition, first played centuries ago on Scottish lochs, where players slide heavy granite rocks down a sheet of ice toward a target.
—
Pien Huang,
NPR,
11 Feb. 2026
While an exact date can’t be pinpointed, according to the World Curling Federation, the sport was played during its early stages on frozen lochs and ponds in northern Europe.
—
Ben Morse,
CNN Money,
4 Feb. 2026
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
Abby Montanez,
Robb Report,
11 June 2026
Covering roughly 260 kilometers from Glasgow to the west coast of Scotland, the West Highland Line is one of the most beautiful routes in the world, offering an ever-changing landscape of rugged mountains, mirror-like lochs, and remote moorlands.
—
Taryn White,
Travel + Leisure,
18 May 2026
The mammals thrive across habitats from inland rivers and lochs to rugged coastal environments.
—
Samantha Agate,
Miami Herald,
21 Apr. 2026
Located on the shores of Loch Linnhe, one of 31,000 freshwater lochs in Scotland, Fort William sits in the shadow of Ben Nevis, at 4,490 feet the highest peak in Britain.
—
Patti Nickell,
Boston Herald,
15 Feb. 2026
Curling is a game of tradition, first played centuries ago on Scottish lochs, where players slide heavy granite rocks down a sheet of ice toward a target.
—
Pien Huang,
NPR,
11 Feb. 2026
While an exact date can’t be pinpointed, according to the World Curling Federation, the sport was played during its early stages on frozen lochs and ponds in northern Europe.
—
Ben Morse,
CNN Money,
4 Feb. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lochs
Noun
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Blue-green algae, known as cyanobacteria, naturally occur in inland waters, estuaries and the sea.
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Crocodiles are more tolerant of saltwater than alligators and are commonly found in mangrove habitats, bays and estuaries in South Florida.
Noun
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Work is currently concentrated on four bays, before moving to the rest of the gallery.
-
Youth on Course is going off-course for its next play-time opportunity for juniors, partnering with Topgolf to provide access to hitting bays for just $5 this summer.
Noun
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The nearby Atlantic coastline offers a variety of scenery and terrain, including quiet coves, granite shoreline, offshore islands and crashing surf.
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From Menorca’s quiet coves to Sardinia’s pink sands, here's what topped their lists.
Cite this Entry
“Lochs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lochs. Accessed 28 Jun. 2026.
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