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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Recent Examples of moat
Each moat is made of things like network effects and switching costs.
—
NPR, 21 Oct. 2025
These applications can create competitive moats and generate measurable ROI.
—Craig Costigan, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025
The castle is straight out of a fairy tale, complete with a moat and towers and courtyards, and period furniture and artwork.
—Thomas Page McBee, Travel + Leisure, 16 Sep. 2025
For breakfast and lunch, there’s Gulf shrimp in a moat of creamy grits and massive triangles of quiche suspending earthy layers of collard greens.
—The Bon Appétit Staff, Bon Appetit Magazine, 12 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for moat
NPR, 21 Oct. 2025
These applications can create competitive moats and generate measurable ROI.
—Craig Costigan, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025
The castle is straight out of a fairy tale, complete with a moat and towers and courtyards, and period furniture and artwork.
—Thomas Page McBee, Travel + Leisure, 16 Sep. 2025
For breakfast and lunch, there’s Gulf shrimp in a moat of creamy grits and massive triangles of quiche suspending earthy layers of collard greens.
—The Bon Appétit Staff, Bon Appetit Magazine, 12 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for moat
Recent Examples of Synonyms for moat
Noun
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Legal experts note people playing ding-dong ditch can also face charges, with offenses ranging from criminal trespass to disorderly conduct.—
Mark Price,
Charlotte Observer,
6 Jan. 2026
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In heavy rain, refrain from parking or walking near culverts or drainage ditches, where swift-moving water can pose a grave danger.—
Bay Area Weather Report,
Mercury News,
6 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Throw on anything from a shearling jacket, long trench, or oversized hoodie, to a fuzzy, faux fur coat or chunky sweater dress with this stylish headgear.—
Morgan Evans,
InStyle,
31 Dec. 2025
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To learn why dating in Nashville, in particular, may be so tough, The Tennessean interviewed Music City's Gen Z and Millennial crowds who have spent their time in the dating trenches.—
Audrey Gibbs,
Nashville Tennessean,
30 Dec. 2025
Noun
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Brandon Bell / Getty Images Since then, people have been fortifying dike systems to contain the water, often building housing and industrial buildings as close to the edge as flood plain planners allow.—
Evan Bush,
NBC news,
16 Dec. 2025
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Chinese mitten crabs burrow into levees, dikes, and stream banks, increasing erosion and threatening flood-control systems.—
Staff Author Updated,
PEOPLE,
3 Dec. 2025
Noun
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The family of Texas man Michael Sheehan filed a lawsuit in June, detailing a 2024 crash in Baytown in which Sheehan’s vehicle left the road, struck a culvert and caught fire.—
Andrea Guzmán,
Austin American Statesman,
8 Jan. 2026
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As a last resort, lie flat in the nearest depression, ditch or culvert and cover your head with your arms.—
Cheyenne Derksen,
Oklahoman,
8 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
But funny ha-ha peculiar, just like the director.—
John Waters,
Vulture,
3 Dec. 2025
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Is there anything in the wings at the IRS that will provide some guidance as to the taxable or nontaxable (ha-ha) nature of that lump sum?—
Liz Weston,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
26 Oct. 2025
Noun
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If reaching shelter is not possible, either stay inside your car, covering your head, or abandon the vehicle and seek refuge in a low-lying area like a ditch or ravine.—
Bay Area Weather Report,
Mercury News,
5 Jan. 2026
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When camping in an open environment, select a campsite in a valley, ravine, or low region.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
4 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Tiny gaps around garages, vents, gutters, and foundations let mice squeeze inside unless openings are properly sealed.—
Katie Cloyd,
Martha Stewart,
10 Jan. 2026
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Some other key tips to consider include clearing your gutters and checking your roof for anything that could cause problems.—
Lauren Pozen,
CBS News,
9 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Moat.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/moat. Accessed 14 Jan. 2026.
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