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
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Recent Examples of moat
My usual route out was through Sleeping Beauty’s castle, over the moat via a working drawbridge.
—
Steve Martin,
The Atlantic,
11 June 2026
The moat will need to be refilled frequently and kept clean.
—
Peg Aloi,
The Spruce,
4 June 2026
In Latin America stadiums have been constructed with anti-hooligan architecture such as high fencing and moats.
—
Gitanjali Roy,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
1 June 2026
The feeding ports keep out buzzing bees, while the ant moat hanger will keep away pesky ants, so the nectar is saved just for the hummingbirds.
—
Brittany Vanderbill,
Better Homes & Gardens,
28 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for moat
Steve Martin,
The Atlantic,
11 June 2026
The moat will need to be refilled frequently and kept clean.
—
Peg Aloi,
The Spruce,
4 June 2026
In Latin America stadiums have been constructed with anti-hooligan architecture such as high fencing and moats.
—
Gitanjali Roy,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
1 June 2026
The feeding ports keep out buzzing bees, while the ant moat hanger will keep away pesky ants, so the nectar is saved just for the hummingbirds.
—
Brittany Vanderbill,
Better Homes & Gardens,
28 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for moat
Recent Examples of Synonyms for moat
Noun
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According to authorities, Maddie steered the off-road vehicle to avoid a drainage ditch before the ATV plunged into the water.
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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.
Noun
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The most common is to apply liquid termiticide in a trench in the soil around your house.
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This poppy red trench is the kind of summer statement piece that’s worth the investment, especially with this discount.
Noun
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More than 1 billion gallons of ash spilled into waterways and neighboring properties after a dike ruptured.
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This is absolutely elite stuff all around, a whirlwind of the Knicks finding the net opening and making the right play, and the Spurs scrambling like mad to plug each new hole in the dike before finally Wembanyama seals it with a block at the rim.
Noun
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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.
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In Belgium, culvert removals in the Anlier forest are reconnecting smaller tributaries that play an important role in local biodiversity.
Noun
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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.
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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.
Noun
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When camping in an open environment, select a campsite in a valley, ravine, or low region.
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When camping in an open environment, select a campsite in a valley, ravine, or low region.
Noun
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Protect your home by removing decaying wood, controlling moisture, and cleaning gutters and overgrowth.
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Check gutters periodically to prevent clogs and an unwanted fly infestation.
Cite this Entry
“Moat.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/moat. Accessed 2 Jul. 2026.
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