as in ditch
a deep, wide excavation that is usually filled with water and that goes around the walls of a place (such as a castle) to protect it from being attacked
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Recent Examples of moat
Step 2: Disassemble the Feeder Take apart all removable parts such as feeding ports, perches, and ant moats.
—
Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 6 Apr. 2026
Paul Faust, who lives in the Darlington area of Ligonier Township, has a small tributary to the Loyalhanna Creek in his backyard, but on Friday, that run was acting less like a stream and more like a moat.
—Chris Hoffman, CBS News, 27 Mar. 2026
Sticky barriers or water moats can also prevent ants from reaching common destinations, such as plants and counters, according to the University of Minnesota Extension.
—Caden Perry, jsonline.com, 24 Mar. 2026
Banking app Dave says its moat is its regulatory relationships and its credit underwriting.
—Rohan Goswami, semafor.com, 12 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for moat
Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 6 Apr. 2026
Paul Faust, who lives in the Darlington area of Ligonier Township, has a small tributary to the Loyalhanna Creek in his backyard, but on Friday, that run was acting less like a stream and more like a moat.
—Chris Hoffman, CBS News, 27 Mar. 2026
Sticky barriers or water moats can also prevent ants from reaching common destinations, such as plants and counters, according to the University of Minnesota Extension.
—Caden Perry, jsonline.com, 24 Mar. 2026
Banking app Dave says its moat is its regulatory relationships and its credit underwriting.
—Rohan Goswami, semafor.com, 12 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for moat
Recent Examples of Synonyms for moat
Noun
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During heavy rain, avoid parking or walking near culverts or drainage ditches, where swift-moving water can pose a serious risk.—
Southern California Weather Report,
Daily News,
13 Apr. 2026
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The premiere opens with Rue in Mexico as a group of men help push her car out of a ditch in a desert landscape.—
Selome Hailu,
Variety,
13 Apr. 2026
Noun
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It should have been called swamp or something like that…trench.—
Christine Terrisse,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Apr. 2026
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The work required felling primeval trees measuring six feet in diameter and digging a deep trench through the marsh to accommodate boat traffic.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Park staff in July partially opened the valve of the structure after heavy rain caused water levels to overflow the lake’s earthen dike, raising erosion concerns.—
Mary Divine,
Twin Cities,
18 Feb. 2026
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Refurbishment of the dike around the lake is finished, and a revision of the lake management rules went into effect in 2024.—
Amy Green,
Miami Herald,
9 Jan. 2026
Noun
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At some point as the suspects fled westbound on the Interstate 30 service road, the ATM dislodged from the vehicle and came to rest in a culvert near an auto dealership, police said.—
Lillie Davidson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
29 Mar. 2026
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The greenway will be temporarily closed at a date to be announced so a new culvert can be built, according to NCDOT.—
Joe Marusak,
Charlotte Observer,
11 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Great roles and performances, but, ha-ha, Phoenix earned his first Academy Award for Joker in 2020.—
Kevin Jacobsen,
Entertainment Weekly,
13 Mar. 2026
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But funny ha-ha peculiar, just like the director.—
John Waters,
Vulture,
3 Dec. 2025
Noun
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When camping in an open environment, select a campsite in a valley, ravine, or low region.—
KANSAS CITY STAR WEATHER BOT,
Kansas City Star,
10 Apr. 2026
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She was found hours later, barely alive and with a fractured skull, having been brutally raped and left for dead in one of the park’s ravines.—
Tracy Grant,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
10 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Remove debris from gutters and at the base of downspouts.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
10 Apr. 2026
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Categories covered by this author include home warranty, gutter guards, pest control, mattresses, roofing, car warranty, home insurance, car insurance, weight loss and hair loss.—
Caroline Ernst,
USA Today,
9 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Moat.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/moat. Accessed 14 Apr. 2026.
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