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

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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 Technical moats that are eroding in software, where AI democratizes development, remain strong in robotics due to the complexity of physical world integration. Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 8 Sep. 2025 In the case of merchant AI chips, that's Nvidia thanks in large part to a massive software ecosystem that serves as a competitive moat against other competitors like AMD. Zev Fima, 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 By contrast, states with an oceanic moat have relative security from invasion. S. C. M. Paine, Foreign Affairs, 19 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for moat
Recent Examples of Synonyms for moat
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
  • In heavy rain, refrain from parking or walking near culverts or drainage ditches, where swift-moving water can pose a grave danger.
    Southern California Weather Report, Oc Register, 29 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Toss it under a blazer or trench with jeans for a sleek fall outfit, or go casual with sweats and sneakers on a flight.
    Rosie Marder, Travel + Leisure, 7 Oct. 2025
  • Sweeping in with trademark energy, McCartney wore a classic oversized trench with architectural shoulders.
    Sasha Pinto, Vogue, 6 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • 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
  • By taking down part of the old dike and building a new one farther back, the project has given the river some breathing room, expanding the floodplain.
    Christopher Elliott, Forbes.com, 11 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • According to the department, the new culvert will be able to handle potential overflow during future floods.
    Shannon Tyler, Idaho Statesman, 30 Sep. 2025
  • Pickleball courts, golf course to remain open Plans for the project include dredging the lake, repairing the concrete and foundation at the dam, and replacing a culvert near Flatwoods Road Cove with a bridge.
    Jolene Almendarez, Cincinnati Enquirer, 25 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
  • Of course, Tom finds him first and inanely yells his name across the ravine.
    Grace Byron, Vulture, 6 Oct. 2025
  • From the top of a lift, the three of us descended 4,800 feet into a ravine that, over the course of two hours, funneled us to Refugio Frey.
    Scott Yorko, Travel + Leisure, 4 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Mosquitoes need water to breed, so limit standing water around your home by cleaning gutters and downspouts, removing leaves from low-lying areas and draining dishes under flower pots after rainstorms.
    Madeline Heim, jsonline.com, 1 Oct. 2025
  • Zone 1 — which extends 30 feet from a building — requires property owners to do things such as clear dead plants, grass as well as leaves and pine needles from yards, roofs and gutters; trim overhanging branches; and keep a 10-foot gap between trees.
    Hannah Ruhoff, Sacbee.com, 26 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Moat.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/moat. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.

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