silt 1 of 2

noun

Definition of siltnext
as in sediment
soil made chiefly of loose sedimentary material that is carried by flowing water and that sinks to the bottom of a river, pond, etc.

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silt

2 of 2

verb

as in to fur

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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 silt
Noun
The ratio of sand, silt, and clay determines the soil's texture. — Rae Ford, Martha Stewart, 8 June 2026 Common contaminants these systems address include sediment (dirt, sand, rust, silt), chlorine and chloramines, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), pesticides and herbicides, heavy metals (lead, mercury, copper), bacteria and unpleasant taste or odors. — Ryan Brennan may 26, Miami Herald, 26 May 2026
Verb
Historically, the region itself was created by the natural flooding and silting processes of the Mississippi River, which flows across the breadth of the state before spilling into the Gulf of America. — David Blackmon, Forbes.com, 18 June 2025 Its primary purpose is not to control people or accumulate power, except perhaps incrementally, in the form of a kind of silting up of canonical importance. — Literary Hub, 22 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for silt
Recent Examples of Synonyms for silt
  1. sediment
  2. fur
  3. alluvium
  4. flood
  5. loess
  6. gridlock
  7. detritus
  8. swamp
Noun
  • Unlike Lake Michigan, debris and garbage settle along the riverbed and near the banks, forcing divers to search through sediment and obstacles while currents continue to move beneath the surface.
    — Darius Johnson, CBS News, 6 Aug. 2026
  • Using mechanisms scientists are still trying to understand, the cilia wave around to generate fast-moving vortices of water that circulate oxygen to the coral’s outer tissues, in addition to helping keep the colonies free of sediment.
    — Marlowe Starling, Quanta Magazine, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of sediment
Verb
  • Measure the area to figure out how many panels and furring strips are needed.
    — Tribune Content Agency, Baltimore Sun, 14 Apr. 2026
  • Use shims to keep the panels level and apply a construction adhesive such as Liquid Nails to fasten them to the furring strips.
    — Tribune Content Agency, Baltimore Sun, 14 Apr. 2026
Definition of fur
Noun
  • What used to be open water was heading towards alluvium, and oblivion.
    — Rob Crossan, Condé Nast Traveler, 24 Mar. 2026
  • At some point, alluvium buried the entire tusk, possibly from major storm flooding.
    — Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 14 Aug. 2024
Definition of alluvium
Verb
  • For others, some roads are likely to flood and creeks and streams could also overflow their banks.
    — Briana Waxman, CNN Money, 10 Aug. 2026
  • The comment sections of many of the influencers who attended were flooded with messages questioning their morals.
    — Theara Coleman, TheWeek, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of flood
Noun
  • The base played a critical role in national defense, housing a command bunker, planted deep into the regional loess, that was designed to withstand a nuclear blast.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 10 July 2026
  • The Rhône's predominantly granite soils versus Walla Walla's basalt bedrock, riverbed cobbles, and windblown loess.
    — Paul Caputo, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026
Definition of loess
Verb
  • But the debate is more about whether the opposition coalition can split the vote, strip Hichilema’s UPND of its working legislative majority, and threaten to gridlock reforms.
    — Tiisetso Motsoeneng, semafor.com, 29 July 2026
  • Campaign financing, taking money from special interests, leads not only to gridlock but also to an inability for political parties to act in good faith on their constituents’ behalf.
    — Linh Tat, Oc Register, 5 May 2026
Definition of gridlock
Noun
  • The dirty sea near the city often carried this kind of detritus to the shore.
    — Cynthia Zarin, Harpers Magazine, 4 Aug. 2026
  • In the next round of Count the Rice, the rice is mixed into a large box full of paper, styrofoam, and other detritus.
    — Tasha Robinson, Vulture, 14 July 2026
Definition of detritus
Verb
  • The Word document was like a trail swamped with mud after torrential rain.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 6 Aug. 2026
  • We’d be either swamped or smashed like an eggshell by the tons of solid water pouring over us.
    — JAMES D. OXLEY, Outdoor Life, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of swamp

Browse Nearby Words

silly
silt
silted
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Cite this Entry

“Silt.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/silt. Accessed 14 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on silt

Nglish: Translation of silt for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about silt

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