loess

noun

Definition of loessnext
as in alluvium

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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 loess Officials said the feature continued downward into the loess beneath the prehistoric site. — Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 9 Feb. 2026 Many fatalities were linked to the collapse of yaodongs—homes carved into loess hillsides. — Amanda Castro, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Oct. 2025 When blown by the wind, these sediments are referred to as loess. — Joseph V Micallef, Forbes, 2 Sep. 2021 When the tunnel was first dug, the ice held the loess in place. — Madeline Ostrander, Smithsonian Magazine, 4 May 2020 See All Example Sentences for loess
Recent Examples of Synonyms for loess
  1. alluvium
  2. sediment
  3. silt
  4. marl
  5. clay
  6. detritus
  7. mud
  8. shingle
Noun
  • What used to be open water was heading towards alluvium, and oblivion.
    — Rob Crossan, Condé Nast Traveler, 24 Mar. 2026
  • At some point, alluvium buried the entire tusk, possibly from major storm flooding.
    — Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 14 Aug. 2024
Definition of alluvium
Noun
  • Nick came later, in middle school, when his father was transferred from Arizona to manage the Rust River agricultural station, specializing in loam and related sediment.
    — Tom Drury, Harpers Magazine, 29 Sep. 2026
  • Mazon Creek was a swampy river delta during the Carboniferous period, and its conditions allowed sediment to rapidly cover dead plants and animals.
    — Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of sediment
Noun
  • An external pre-filter head blocks silt and large particles before water is drawn into a layer filtration structure.
    — Abhimanyu Ghoshal, New Atlas, 8 Sep. 2026
  • Its bottom is lined with soft, soupy silt that makes traditional bridge pillars impossible.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of silt
Noun
  • Freshman Ben Smith became the first NCAA outdoor champion for Oregon in the shot put since Dean Crouser (1982) with a marl of 69-0 1/2.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 11 June 2026
  • Its striking blue-green hues and clarity—allowing visibility of 20 to 30 feet—are due to minimal organic runoff and calcium-rich marl sediment from its glacial origins.
    — Taryn White, Travel + Leisure, 21 May 2026
Definition of marl
Noun
  • Daffodils, alliums, crocuses and snowdrops are somewhat more tolerant of clay soil than other bulbs.
    — Beth Botts, Chicago Tribune, 4 Oct. 2026
  • For three years, as Israeli bombs made ruins of the ground, some of the trees and vines had clung to life in the spongy layer of clay below.
    — Ghada Abdulfattah, Christian Science Monitor, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of clay
Noun
  • Competitive hackles aside, the ranks of the independent advisory boutique now seem like so much ego detritus, a horse painting above a fireplace.
    — semafor.com, semafor.com, 1 Oct. 2026
  • Previous seasons saw Vernon curate the subterranean room into messy domestic tableaux, with pieces nestled among scenes of dinner parties and unfinished musical manuscripts—the detritus of a chaotic creative process.
    — Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of detritus
Noun
  • The ground level would sink, the water would seep up, and the horses’ hooves would trudge through mud.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 Sep. 2026
  • American and its allies must get private software developers in the mud with soldiers.
    — Dan Driscoll, Foreign Affairs, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of mud
Noun
  • The clock keeps running on every shingle after the inspector leaves.
    — Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 1 Oct. 2026
  • Paul Taubman, who left Morgan Stanley in 2013 to hang out a shingle, was the last star whose exit made a meaningful dent in the M&A leaderboard.
    — semafor.com, semafor.com, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of shingle

Browse Nearby Words

lodgments
loess
loesses
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Cite this Entry

“Loess.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/loess. Accessed 7 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on loess

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about loess

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