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
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
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
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
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 plants that thrived in that ecosystem formed protective estuaries.—
Melina Walling,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Feb. 2026
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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
Noun
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Among the best places to visit in Puerto Rico are its rare bioluminescent bays, where the water appears to glow at night thanks to microscopic organisms that are stimulated by movement.—
Patricia Doherty,
Travel + Leisure,
17 Feb. 2026
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The prolonged low temperatures froze rivers, lakes and bays, providing some of the best ice boating conditions in decades.—
Brittney Melton,
NPR,
16 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Spread across roughly 270 miles of coastline, Puerto Rico’s 300 or so beaches range from secluded coves to lively white-sand stretches with plenty of opportunities for swimming, diving, and water sports.—
Patricia Doherty,
Travel + Leisure,
17 Feb. 2026
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After rounding Cap de ses Salines lighthouse, the trail heads north past Platja es Caragol and another two gorgeous coves (Roquetes and Carbó) before finishing up in Colònia de Sant Jordi.—
Paul Richardson,
Condé Nast Traveler,
16 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Lochs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lochs. Accessed 28 Feb. 2026.
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