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
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
Waters off the point are treacherous, including colliding currents, shoals and sandbars.
—Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 22 Jan. 2026
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
Waters off the point are treacherous, including colliding currents, shoals and sandbars.
—Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 22 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sandbars
Noun
-
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
-
Our guide, Ignacio Rodriguez, says the site is sacred for the area's Puinave and Curipaco Indians who often climb these ridges to leave offerings to the spirits.—
John Otis,
NPR,
30 May 2026
-
Other designers zero in on the shapes, ridges and all, as inspiration for furniture silhouettes and accessories.—
Yelena Moroz Alpert,
Architectural Digest,
29 May 2026
Noun
-
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
-
In the wake of the 2007 settlement, tents began to appear on the sidewalks, freeway embankments, overpasses, underpasses, civic plazas and public spaces everywhere in Los Angeles.—
Susan Shelley,
Oc Register,
25 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
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
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As a result, the wide, shallow bay, with its lacework of shoals and basins, grows hot and hypersaline, killing seagrass, fueling algae blooms and hurting the economy of the Keys.—
Bill Kearney,
Sun Sentinel,
29 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sandbars.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sandbars. Accessed 4 Jun. 2026.
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