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
  • Because the work can churn up mud and sediment that can harm wildlife, the Army Corps consulted federal environmental regulators.
    — Jenny Staletovich, Miami Herald, 30 July 2026
  • Large volumes of sediment and construction waste could reshape shorelines and damage coastal habitats.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 29 July 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
  • This summer alone, we’re flooded with visitors excited to see the new Obama Presidential Center, enjoy Taste of Chicago and Lollapalooza, or just visit the museums and hang out by the lake.
    — Ray LaHood, Chicago Tribune, 3 Aug. 2026
  • But the ease of generating cheap, low-quality video has the potential to flood the platform with garbage, a threat that has been on the minds of company executives intent on making YouTube feel more, not less, premium.
    — Max Tani, semafor.com, 3 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
  • 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
  • Based on carbon dating and artifacts, detritus and animal remains found at the site, Carr and others concluded the circle had likely been the foundation for a wooden ceremonial building dating back around 2,000 years.
    — Andres Viglucci, Miami Herald, 30 June 2026
Definition of detritus
Verb
  • An abutting creek swamped his property with waters 3 to 4 feet (91 centimeters to 122 centimeters) deep and destroyed the oldest part of the mill next to his home.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 30 July 2026
  • Let’s look at some of the markets around the country, scaling the data so that the largest ones don’t swamp the rankings.
    — Brad Hunter, Forbes.com, 28 July 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 7 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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