moat

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

Related Words

Relevance

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 moat The castle is straight out of a fairy tale, complete with a moat and towers and courtyards, and period furniture and artwork. Thomas Page McBee, Travel + Leisure, 16 Sep. 2025 For breakfast and lunch, there’s Gulf shrimp in a moat of creamy grits and massive triangles of quiche suspending earthy layers of collard greens. The Bon Appétit Staff, Bon Appetit Magazine, 12 Sep. 2025 Nvidia's moat is under threat by other artificial intelligence chipmakers, according to Citi. Pia Singh, CNBC, 8 Sep. 2025 Step 2: Disassemble the Feeder Take apart all removable parts such as feeding ports, perches, and ant moats. Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 2 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for moat
Recent Examples of Synonyms for moat
Noun
  • Hibino, who was identified by the Japanese embassy, was discovered in a ditch near the ancient site in central Rome, according to CNN.
    Bailey Richards, PEOPLE, 25 Oct. 2025
  • Police had to break down a gate leading to the ditch to reach the man and recover his body.
    Barbie Latza Nadeau, CNN Money, 25 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Add a blazer, cardigan, or trench on top—this piece is pure versatility with a side of glam.
    Rosie Marder, Travel + Leisure, 27 Oct. 2025
  • This clay molding process was known to preserve the form of soft animals in oxygen-poor areas, such as the muds at the bottom of lagoons and deep-sea trenches, Sereno says.
    Andrea Tamayo, Scientific American, 23 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The restoration project tears down old dikes, letting nature reclaim what industry once took.
    Doc Louallen, ABC News, 27 Aug. 2025
  • Park staff partially opened the valve in July after heavy rain caused water levels to overflow the dike, raising erosion concerns.
    Mary Divine, Twin Cities, 14 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • The pickup veered off the road, struck a concrete culvert and went airborne before landing in the ditch, according to police.
    Noe Padilla, IndyStar, 2 Oct. 2025
  • According to the department, the new culvert will be able to handle potential overflow during future floods.
    Shannon Tyler, Idaho Statesman, 30 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Not so much ha-ha funny as smart funny, which is probably for the best.
    Bill Goodykoontz, AZCentral.com, 19 Sep. 2025
  • Naked Gun showed that there remains a ceiling with broad comedies in the streaming era, specifically titles that aren’t hybrid (hybrid meaning a movie like Deadpool & Wolverine which is half superhero, half ha-ha).
    Anthony D'Alessandro, Deadline, 1 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • In the Dominican Republic, 12 provinces are on red alert due to possible flooding of rivers, streams and ravines as well as flash floods and landslides.
    Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 25 Oct. 2025
  • His aged dog disappears and is later found dead at the bottom of a ravine.
    Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 23 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Clean gutters regularly so water flows away from your house and doesn’t back up into the soffits and under the roofline.
    Arricca Elin SanSone, Southern Living, 22 Oct. 2025
  • Leaves near decks, patios, walkways, or gutters should be removed to prevent staining and blockages.
    Diana Leyva, Nashville Tennessean, 21 Oct. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Moat.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/moat. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on moat

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!