moat

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 But customer integration and high-touch service make up the moat. Matt Rogers, Fortune, 30 May 2026 The moat is not a legal structure. Ethan Stone, USA Today, 29 May 2026 The jelly dishes are removable, and the feeder includes an ant moat as well as bee guards to keep insects away. Brittany Vanderbill, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 May 2026 Abroad, Putin focused on forming a moat of buffer countries, a gray zone between the East and the West. Anna Nemtsova, Time, 23 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for moat
Recent Examples of Synonyms for moat
Noun
  • 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
  • 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.
    KANSAS CITY STAR WEATHER BOT, Kansas City Star, 14 June 2026
Noun
  • The second discovery was made during the research vessel RV Dagon's expedition to the Tonga Trench, the second-largest trench in the world after the Mariana, in 2024.
    Greta Cross, USA Today, 12 June 2026
  • This is the first time scientists saw the species living in trench slopes as well, Judah said.
    Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 12 June 2026
Noun
  • More than 1 billion gallons of ash spilled into waterways and neighboring properties after a dike ruptured.
    Christiana Freitag, Chicago Tribune, 13 June 2026
  • The ditch by the plant is connected to a dike system that runs through the city of Longview, which has a population of around 37,000, Stanfield said.
    Phil Helsel, NBC news, 29 May 2026
Noun
  • 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
  • In Belgium, culvert removals in the Anlier forest are reconnecting smaller tributaries that play an important role in local biodiversity.
    Radina Gigova, CNN Money, 27 May 2026
Noun
  • 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
  • Great roles and performances, but, ha-ha, Phoenix earned his first Academy Award for Joker in 2020.
    Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 13 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • If finding a safe shelter is not possible, either crouch down inside your car and protect your head, or abandon your vehicle and seek shelter in a low-lying area such as a ditch or ravine.
    KANSAS CITY STAR WEATHER BOT, Kansas City Star, 14 June 2026
  • When camping in an open environment, select a campsite in a valley, ravine, or low region.
    NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 13 June 2026
Noun
  • Keep gutters clean and have downspouts route water away from the foundation.
    Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 10 June 2026
  • Consider installing gutter guards to keep out twigs, leaves and critters.
    BestReviews, Chicago Tribune, 8 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Moat.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/moat. Accessed 18 Jun. 2026.

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