night soil

Definition of night soilnext

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 night soil This strategy became necessary after an errant tomato plant sprouted from a visitor's night soil back in the 1960s. Amy Brady, Scientific American, 17 Oct. 2023 The night soil temperatures are not ideal to put them out yet. oregonlive, 1 May 2021 For millennia, people collected these precious substances—often in the wee hours, giving rise to the term night soil—and used them to grow food. Julia Rosen, The Atlantic, 8 Feb. 2021
Recent Examples of Synonyms for night soil
Noun
  • Think mugwort from Ganghwa, fig from Yeongam, or rice harvested in Yeoju, a region known for its mineral-rich soil and high-quality crops.
    Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 21 Mar. 2026
  • While rainfall runs off quickly and can more readily evaporate from soil, snowpack serves as a valuable and lasting source of moisture and accounts for a majority of water supplies across the region, as much as 80 percent in some areas.
    Mira Rojanasakul, New York Times, 21 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • On occasion, someone seeking a diagnosis will email a picture of their stool to Ahmed.
    Sarah Boden, NPR, 16 Mar. 2026
  • This gel also softens stool and slows digestion.
    Sarah Garone, Health, 16 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • This may involve adding organic matter such as compost, aged manure, or peat moss.
    Lauren Wellbank, Martha Stewart, 16 Mar. 2026
  • Solid manure from feedlots, poultry houses or composting dairy barns is spread and tilled under.
    Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 15 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • The table by the front door was entirely usurped by leashes, harnesses, collars, assorted car seat belts and, of course, poop bags.
    Inga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Mar. 2026
  • The protests have eclipsed dog-poop complaints as the hot topic of the day.
    Emma Rosenblum, Curbed, 12 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • Roach excrement was on a wall next to the three-compartment sink.
    David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 13 Mar. 2026
  • The alternative is open defecation – finding a secluded place despite the personal risks and the potential health consequences of untreated human excrement.
    Kamala Thiagarajan, NPR, 8 Mar. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Night soil.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/night%20soil. Accessed 22 Mar. 2026.

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