1
as in dirt
foul matter that mars the purity or cleanliness of something
got some sort of soil on my white pants
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in dung
solid matter discharged from an animal's alimentary canal
the horse lifted its tail and deposited its soil on the grass
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in ground
the loose surface material in which plants naturally grow
bought rich soil to plant flowers in
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in to stain
to make dirty
oil and grease soiled the mechanic's shirt
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of soil
Markis Hill, Kansas City Star, 15 Mar. 2026
Archaeologists finally detected the spot, hidden under grass and soil, where the shaft entrance lay dormant and waiting, perhaps for an opportune moment to surface.
—Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 15 Mar. 2026
Theo Belci, Artforum, 27 Feb. 2026
Also on the good side of things is Sean Bell’s lanky Sir Robin, the not-quite-so-brave, armor-soiling knight.
—Christopher Smith, Oc Register, 18 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for soil
Noun
Instead of letting that water rush downhill and carry soil with it, homeowners can slow and capture it in the landscape.
—Markis Hill, Kansas City Star, 15 Mar. 2026
Archaeologists finally detected the spot, hidden under grass and soil, where the shaft entrance lay dormant and waiting, perhaps for an opportune moment to surface.
—Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 15 Mar. 2026
Verb
Both of his arms are in the sleeves, and his bourgeois father is kneeling on the floor, taking the shirt in order to conserve it, perhaps saving it from being soiled.
—Theo Belci, Artforum, 27 Feb. 2026
Also on the good side of things is Sean Bell’s lanky Sir Robin, the not-quite-so-brave, armor-soiling knight.
—Christopher Smith, Oc Register, 18 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for soil
Recent Examples of Synonyms for soil
Verb
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It’s been dried, stripped of bark, sanded to silky smoothness, stained, sealed and painstakingly carved.—
Kathy Gurchiek,
AJC.com,
10 Mar. 2026
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While standard cast iron typically requires seasoning to both preserve and maintain its quality and help prevent food from sticking, this cast iron is equipped with a black matte satin interior enamel coating that’s made to resist cracking, chipping, and staining.—
Alicia Geigel,
Southern Living,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
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But as filming continued, Pidgeon appeared to dirty her butter blond with caramel and chocolate shades similar to Bessette-Kennedy’s, thanks to stylist Kari Hill.—
Kaleigh Werner,
Footwear News,
25 Feb. 2026
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With the help of your Instant Pot, spaghetti and meatballs come together in under an hour without dirtying multiple dishes.—
Jenna Sims,
Southern Living,
24 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Whether shoveling your driveway, building a snow man with the kids, or just generally mucking around in the cold, sleet and snow, Muck Boots will keep you comfortable and protected.—
Tory Johnson,
ABC News,
16 Feb. 2026
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Siniaková, the No. 1 doubles player in the world, started to muck things up, and Anisimova’s serve began to stray.—
Louisa Thomas,
New Yorker,
25 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The Israeli strikes on oil facilities sparked massive pillars of fire and blackened the skies above Tehran.—
NPR Staff,
NPR,
11 Mar. 2026
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Once a sky-blue democracy is restored, may Trump’s days of infamy be ruled illegitimate and his name and legacy duly tainted by all of history, darkly blackened or cautiously reddened in the honest records that this twerp and his twisted cohorts have conspired so heinously to whitewash.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
8 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Soil.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/soil. Accessed 17 Mar. 2026.
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