as in holes
a sunken area forming a separate space
removal of the tree stump left a gaping pit in the yard
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Recent Examples of pits
Daniel Modlin, Architectural Digest, 5 Mar. 2026
Not all pads are alike, but a footprint on the larger side involves five to ten acres of cleared, packed ground that serves as the hub for drilling equipment, which can include wellheads, pump jacks, tanks, wastewater storage pits, trailers, and flare stacks.
—Alex Heard, Outside, 4 Mar. 2026
Indoor conversation pits from the 1960s and 1970s have migrated outdoors, and with a fresh look.
—Lee Wallender, The Spruce, 4 Mar. 2026
Guests can also expect a waterfront restaurant, direct access to a marina, a year-round outdoor hot tub, fire pits, and complimentary activities like stand-up paddleboarding and biking—ingredients for a perfect lakefront getaway.
—Jacqueline Kehoe, Travel + Leisure, 3 Mar. 2026
The lunar simulant particles had tiny pits on them, while the Martian simulant particles were covered in nanoparticles.
—Keith Cooper, Space.com, 3 Mar. 2026
Archaeology Mag continues that geophysical data didn’t produce any clear plans of building, but subsurface anomalies did indicate the presence of hearths and storage pits.
—Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 1 Mar. 2026
With almost no ambient light, nights are really dark, and when clear, the skies are studded with stars; on cold nights, giant fire pits on the patio keep you warm while stargazing.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 27 Feb. 2026
Tips and fire laws Palm Beach County currently has a burn ban, meaning all outdoor burning is prohibited, including yard waste, bonfires and fire pits.
—Bill Kearney, Sun Sentinel, 25 Feb. 2026
Noun
Wayfair also carries plenty of woodburning fire pits made out of steel, many with intricate designs.
—Daniel Modlin, Architectural Digest, 5 Mar. 2026
Not all pads are alike, but a footprint on the larger side involves five to ten acres of cleared, packed ground that serves as the hub for drilling equipment, which can include wellheads, pump jacks, tanks, wastewater storage pits, trailers, and flare stacks.
—Alex Heard, Outside, 4 Mar. 2026
Indoor conversation pits from the 1960s and 1970s have migrated outdoors, and with a fresh look.
—Lee Wallender, The Spruce, 4 Mar. 2026
Guests can also expect a waterfront restaurant, direct access to a marina, a year-round outdoor hot tub, fire pits, and complimentary activities like stand-up paddleboarding and biking—ingredients for a perfect lakefront getaway.
—Jacqueline Kehoe, Travel + Leisure, 3 Mar. 2026
The lunar simulant particles had tiny pits on them, while the Martian simulant particles were covered in nanoparticles.
—Keith Cooper, Space.com, 3 Mar. 2026
Archaeology Mag continues that geophysical data didn’t produce any clear plans of building, but subsurface anomalies did indicate the presence of hearths and storage pits.
—Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 1 Mar. 2026
With almost no ambient light, nights are really dark, and when clear, the skies are studded with stars; on cold nights, giant fire pits on the patio keep you warm while stargazing.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 27 Feb. 2026
Tips and fire laws Palm Beach County currently has a burn ban, meaning all outdoor burning is prohibited, including yard waste, bonfires and fire pits.
—Bill Kearney, Sun Sentinel, 25 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pits
Noun
-
The peak of this dome occurred when the Hall coefficient changed sign, indicating that the dominant charge carriers switched from holes to electrons.—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
8 Mar. 2026
-
One of those holes is the WNBA’s low pay, which forced players to supplement their income by playing overseas when the league was not in season.—
J.J. Bailey,
New York Times,
8 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The Red Wings’ penalty kill has been better on the whole this season, though an 0-for-3 showing certainly dents their numbers and drops them to 80 percent on the season.—
Max Bultman,
New York Times,
10 Nov. 2025
-
The Lakers, like the Celtics, are tenants in their arena, which dents their ability to drive revenue from concerts and other events.—
Kurt Badenhausen,
Sportico.com,
16 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Encouraging your kid to brush their teeth twice a day, with a dab of fluoride toothpaste, will guard against cavities.—
Barrie Gillies,
Parents,
9 Mar. 2026
-
One captures a white concrete community mausoleum, its crypts often empty, like absent teeth cavities, its coffins stolen presumably for anything valuable inside.—
John Hopewell,
Variety,
6 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
This creates an intricate network of microscopic cracks that, in addition to visible furrows, help retain the water elephants douse themselves in to stay cool.—
Clare Watson,
Quanta Magazine,
27 Feb. 2026
-
The balks and furrows, left undisturbed, had other uses too.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
19 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The elaborate network of rainfall, rivulets of ditches, and control structures became a sort of language for Van Lent.—
Michael Adno,
Rolling Stone,
3 Mar. 2026
-
Instead, the women and their husbands found out about the data center project from speaking directly to the workers hired to move dirt and dig runoff ditches ahead of construction.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
20 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pits.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pits. Accessed 11 Mar. 2026.
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