moat

noun

Definition of moatnext
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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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 multi-billion-dollar market capitalizations of the top five on the list are driven by highly defensible business models, massive capital moats (as analysts describe them), and structural advantages within the freight sector. — Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 8 July 2026 The most effective moats are compounding systems, whe​re each defense makes every other one more durable. — Anil Chintapalli, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026 Now that the fairy tale ended a long time ago, their incredible businesses, tremendous leadership, and franchises — moats — keep them a big part of the S & P 500 and the biggest part of tech, which is the biggest part of everything. — Jim Cramer, CNBC, 28 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for moat
Recent Examples of Synonyms for moat
  1. ditch
  2. trench
  3. dike
  4. culvert
  5. ha-ha
  6. ravine
  7. gutter
Noun
  • If unable to reach a secure shelter, either crouch down in your car, covering your head, or abandon the vehicle and seek refuge in a low-lying area like a ditch or ravine.
    — NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 6 July 2026
  • But the gold seekers, the ‘49ers, immediately set to digging ditches and canals to divert water, and so the new state soon allowed that practice, too.
    — Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2026
Definition of ditch
Noun
  • The incident happened after two trenches collapsed in Oakland County in the last 24 hours.
    — DeJanay Booth-Singleton, CBS News, 2 July 2026
  • All night long there was the ringing clatter of picks and shovels; the Germans were digging trenches in the frozen ground.
    — Vasily Grossman, Harpers Magazine, 30 June 2026
Definition of trench
Noun
  • As the the dikes reached the seafloor, lava erupted onto the ocean floor, while continuing to drain the magma reservoir, causing the seafloor to collapse further, the researchers told ScienceAlert.
    — Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 9 July 2026
  • The dike had broken, and the firefighters abandoned their efforts.
    — Kansas City Public Library staff, Kansas City Star, 1 July 2026
Definition of dike
Noun
  • Assessing a culvert takes time.
    — Doug Ross, Chicago Tribune, 27 June 2026
  • The funding will also help pay for the replacement of a large drainage culvert near Sierra College Boulevard on English Colony Way at Clover Valley Creek, along with the construction of a new bridge and roadway improvements on Garden Bar Road at Doty Ravine.
    — Nicole Buss, Sacbee.com, 10 June 2026
Definition of culvert
Noun
  • Brazilian fandom is a funny thing, both in its complexity — Brazil, as one of its great cultural figures once said, is not for beginners — and in the ha-ha sense.
    — Jack Lang, New York Times, 25 June 2026
  • Workers repairing a ha-ha, a ditch traditionally used to contain livestock without interrupting the view across an estate, uncovered a tunnel entrance, along with Tudor-era artifacts including pottery, bones, and glass bottles.
    — Anne Doran, ARTnews.com, 15 June 2026
Definition of ha-ha
Noun
  • When camping in an open environment, select a campsite in a valley, ravine, or low region.
    — NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 5 July 2026
  • Reaching the wreckage proved difficult as emergency workers, backed by paramilitary forces, climbed down a steep mountainside to the ravine up to 25 meters (80 feet) deep.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 3 July 2026
Definition of ravine
Noun
  • How Rain Barrels Work Rain barrels collect water from roofs or catchment surfaces through gutters, directing it into a storage container, says Eric Nieusma, a regenerative and organic farmer.
    — SJ McShane, Martha Stewart, 3 July 2026
  • Residents, meanwhile, can help the town’s efforts by reducing standing water around their homes, keeping their lawns mowed and trimmed, keeping rain barrels covered or screened, and cleaning their gutters regularly to prevent accumulated water.
    — Michelle L. Quinn, Chicago Tribune, 29 June 2026
Definition of gutter

Browse Nearby Words

moans
moat
moats
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Cite this Entry

“Moat.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/moat. Accessed 16 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on moat

Nglish: Translation of moat for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about moat

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