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 Deliberate validation of architecture, data integrity, ethics and customer input builds reliability and defensible moats. — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026 Supported by massive regulatory moats, long-term secular demand from GLP-1s and biologics and a clean balance sheet, West is exceptionally well-positioned to compound earnings and deliver strong returns over the long term. — Harvey Stober, CNBC, 5 Aug. 2026 The moat In June, Higgs responded to his neighbors’ ongoing frustration by digging a moat to divert rain water. — Zuri Primos july 27, Kansas City Star, 27 July 2026 To discourage ants from returning, inspect new plants, use a sticky barrier, or create a moat. — Anne Readel, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 July 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
  • Colorado State Patrol The Kenworth collided with the left side of the International trailer, overturning the trailer into an irrigation ditch on the south side of the roadway.
    — Jennifer McRae, CBS News, 4 Aug. 2026
  • The toxic mix of oil and an underground water called brine, several times saltier than the ocean, poured into a ditch along Petrolia Lane and crept toward an unnamed stream.
    — Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of ditch
Noun
  • The Stockton Fire Department said two bodies were recovered from a construction trench that collapsed on Saturday morning.
    — Jose Fabian, CBS News, 9 Aug. 2026
  • After working for more than a decade in club music’s trenches, the brothers now aspired to be not merely DJs, but a dance-music act known for spectacular live performances.
    — Will Pritchard, Pitchfork, 8 Aug. 2026
Definition of trench
Noun
  • Like many inland dikes, the barrier in agricultural fields near the small town of Waddinxveen, east of The Hague, is made of peat that needs to be damp to be strong enough to hold back water.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 2 Aug. 2026
  • The company says the W-01 responds to risks from tsunamis, hurricanes, floods, marine submersion and dike or dam failures.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 19 July 2026
Definition of dike
Noun
  • Marlborough has planned a $508,780 project for the South Road culvert replacement.
    — Sean Krofssik, Hartford Courant, 25 July 2026
  • The Accord apparently left the road and struck a culvert, with the driver suffering non-life-threatening injuries and another passenger uninjured.
    — Greg Evans, Deadline, 21 July 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
  • Rising from near the Aegean coast to 9,573-foot Mytikas, Greece’s highest peak, the mountain encompasses forests, ravines, limestone cliffs, and alpine habitat with unusually rich plant diversity.
    — Bailey Berg, Forbes.com, 9 Aug. 2026
  • The motorcycle drove down a ravine and struck a tree, according to the crash log.
    — Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of ravine
Noun
  • The firm had completed some initial work on the property three or four years ago, including the demolition of the building’s interior, and the buildout of utility connections and curbs and gutters.
    — Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 8 Aug. 2026
  • That includes strategies such as roof and gutter maintenance and keeping fire-prone greenery, shrubs and mulch away from the home.
    — Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of gutter

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moat
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Cite this Entry

“Moat.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/moat. Accessed 14 Aug. 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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