as in dunes
a raised area of sand with a top that is near or just above the surface of the water in an ocean, lake, or river
We walked out onto the sandbar at low tide.
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Recent Examples of sandbars
Rent a kayak or canoe from the Wisconsin Canoe Company and spend a day drifting downstream or book an overnight expedition and camp on one of the river’s sandbars.
—
Charles Usher, Midwest Living, 10 June 2026
The beach boasts shifting sandbars that foster waves with surprisingly good swell.
—Kaitlyn McInnis, Forbes.com, 26 May 2026
Over time, sandbars developed, and at the lake’s southern tip is the iconic Torch Lake Sandbar, a shallow stretch of white sand that turns into a vibrant gathering spot in the summer.
—Taryn White, Travel + Leisure, 21 May 2026
For all of these creatures, the coast’s patchwork of barrier islands, beaches, sandbars, salt marshes, tidal creeks and estuaries are vitally important for survival.
—Charles Seabrook, AJC.com, 16 May 2026
The Central Exuma Cays are known for their shallow turquoise waters, sandbars and thriving marine ecosystems.
—Tracy Yochum, Miami Herald, 15 May 2026
What's more, the trip includes photo-taking opportunities as well as a stop in Shell Key to bask in the sun on its beaches and sandbars.
—Molly Burford, Southern Living, 28 Apr. 2026
The location of the shootout, near Falcones Cay, is known for shallow waters, sandbars and beaches.
—Kara Fox, CNN Money, 26 Feb. 2026
Uneven sandbars lifted and then dropped us in a slow-motion, repetitive dance on the sediment floor.
—Richard Greenberg, Los Angeles Times, 6 Feb. 2026
Charles Usher, Midwest Living, 10 June 2026
The beach boasts shifting sandbars that foster waves with surprisingly good swell.
—Kaitlyn McInnis, Forbes.com, 26 May 2026
Over time, sandbars developed, and at the lake’s southern tip is the iconic Torch Lake Sandbar, a shallow stretch of white sand that turns into a vibrant gathering spot in the summer.
—Taryn White, Travel + Leisure, 21 May 2026
For all of these creatures, the coast’s patchwork of barrier islands, beaches, sandbars, salt marshes, tidal creeks and estuaries are vitally important for survival.
—Charles Seabrook, AJC.com, 16 May 2026
The Central Exuma Cays are known for their shallow turquoise waters, sandbars and thriving marine ecosystems.
—Tracy Yochum, Miami Herald, 15 May 2026
What's more, the trip includes photo-taking opportunities as well as a stop in Shell Key to bask in the sun on its beaches and sandbars.
—Molly Burford, Southern Living, 28 Apr. 2026
The location of the shootout, near Falcones Cay, is known for shallow waters, sandbars and beaches.
—Kara Fox, CNN Money, 26 Feb. 2026
Uneven sandbars lifted and then dropped us in a slow-motion, repetitive dance on the sediment floor.
—Richard Greenberg, Los Angeles Times, 6 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sandbars
Noun
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Many travelers opt to take a four-wheeler down the Sand Highway, a one-way trail into a canyon on the boundary of the dunes, or on the South Boundary Trail, which winds along the eastern side of the main dune area.—
Lydia Mansel,
Travel + Leisure,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Gusts could exceed 55 mph in spots, especially in the peaks of the Laurel Highlands and ridges with the higher terrain deeper into the low level jet.—
Trey Fulbright,
CBS News,
17 June 2026
-
The inner layer, or endoskeleton, is made of heavy-duty paper folded into a series of ridges.—
Maryna Holovnova,
New Atlas,
9 June 2026
Noun
-
Riding mowers are not designed for wet conditions and are more likely to roll on embankments.—
Megan Hughes,
Better Homes & Gardens,
12 June 2026
-
Been there as communities have tried to tame the mighty waters with levees and embankments, and battled 100-pound invasive fish.—
Trevor Hughes,
USA Today,
31 May 2026
Noun
-
China claims almost all of the sea, including areas that overlap with exclusive economic zones from countries like the Philippines, Vietnam and Malaysia, and has been building out structures on some shoals in recent years to bolster its claims.—
Joanna Ossinger,
CNBC,
30 May 2026
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Rose Island Lighthouse stands on a rocky heap of land in Narragansett Bay, guiding ships away from the shallow shoals of Newport Harbor.—
Madeline Bilis,
Travel + Leisure,
3 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sandbars.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sandbars. Accessed 25 Jun. 2026.
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