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
  • These might all show up in future sediments, many millions of years from now.
    — Laura Paddison, CNN Money, 25 July 2026
  • Most of these contaminants wash off the road and end up in streams and sediments.
    — Nathaniel Warner, The Conversation, 24 July 2026
Definition of sediment
Noun
  • The water drew back from the house, left a thick, stinking silt across the floor.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 16 July 2026
  • The valley floor is silt and loess left by the ice-age Missoula Floods, the glacial-lake megafloods that repeatedly drowned the region.
    — Paul Caputo, Forbes.com, 30 June 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
  • Investigators also seized boxes that had been resealed and were ready to ship, packages containing modeling clay instead of fragrance products, additional modeling clay, a heat gun, glue and packaging materials, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
    — Angelique Brenes, PEOPLE, 25 July 2026
  • Sinner, 24, won the first five Masters 1000 events of 2026, including two on hardcourts (Indian Wells and Miami) and three on clay (Monte Carlo, Madrid, Rome).
    — Adam Zagoria, Forbes.com, 25 July 2026
Definition of clay
Noun
  • In the next round of Count the Rice, the rice is mixed into a large box full of paper, styrofoam, and other detritus.
    — Tasha Robinson, Vulture, 14 July 2026
  • Based on carbon dating and artifacts, detritus and animal remains found at the site, Carr and others concluded the circle had likely been the foundation for a wooden ceremonial building dating back around 2,000 years.
    — Andres Viglucci, Miami Herald, 30 June 2026
Definition of detritus
Noun
  • While the driver struggles at the wheel, the rest of the crew must scout, scream directions to the driver and operate winches to pull the rig out of mud or dangle it over cliffs.
    — Jason Bennett, Arkansas Online, 19 July 2026
  • The boots of an MTA work crew and one reporter began to slosh through mud.
    — Evan Simko-Bednarski, New York Daily News, 19 July 2026
Definition of mud
Noun
  • Powell will produce alongside Dan Cohen for his shingle, Barnstorm, which also has a first-look deal with the studio.
    — Brent Lang, Variety, 22 July 2026
  • The resort’s traditional shingle-style architecture meshes well with its historic surroundings, and its location puts guests close to Newport’s bustling waterfront and Gilded Age mansions.
    — Beth Luberecki, USA Today, 21 July 2026
Definition of shingle

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Cite this Entry

“Loess.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/loess. Accessed 29 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on loess

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about loess

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