soil 1 of 3

noun (1)

Definition of soilnext
1
as in dirt
foul matter that mars the purity or cleanliness of something got some sort of soil on my white pants

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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

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soil

2 of 3

noun (2)

1
as in ground
the loose surface material in which plants naturally grow bought rich soil to plant flowers in

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2
as in land
the solid part of our planet's surface as distinguished from the sea and air happy to have soil under my feet after that long sea voyage

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soil

3 of 3

verb

ˈsȯi(-ə)l How to pronounce soil (audio)
as in to stain
to make dirty oil and grease soiled the mechanic's shirt

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 soil
Noun
Getty Images On a rain and windswept field in Springfield, Illinois yesterday afternoon, fans at Robin Roberts Stadium witnessed something that has not happened on American soil in over 70 years – women’s professional baseball. — Dan Freedman, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2026 If gardens are not planted until fall there’s still time for a soil solarization treatment. — Tom MacCubbin, The Orlando Sentinel, 1 Aug. 2026
Verb
Sacramento argued in court that most of her items were soiled and therefore garbage. — Ariane Lange, Sacbee.com, 8 July 2026 Onion skins to add nutrients to soil, either through compost heap or by placing scraps directly in the dirt. — Ashley Chalmers, The Spruce, 7 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for soil
Recent Examples of Synonyms for soil
  1. dirt
  2. dung
  3. ground
  4. land
  5. stain
  6. muck
  7. sand
  8. earth
Noun
  • That one feature has taken Volkwine’s crew more than five months of moving dirt, laying rebar and concrete and hand-shaping every line in the smooth surface that untold numbers of skaters and bikers will use starting this fall.
    — Noah Daly July 31, Idaho Statesman, 31 July 2026
  • All that spectacle is unmatched in American and in global Thoroughbred racing on dirt, and to varying degrees all of it freaks out each and every horse that runs in it.
    — Guy Martin, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026
Definition of dirt
Noun
  • Behind the cookline equipment, the rodent dung shared space with 20 dead roaches.
    — David J. Neal July 24, Miami Herald, 24 July 2026
  • When not elbow-deep in dino dung or outrunning raptors, Laura Dern's heartfelt performance in Jurassic Park shows why women really deserve to inherit the Earth — and all of the acting awards.
    — Huntley Woods, Entertainment Weekly, 11 June 2026
Definition of dung
Noun
  • That’s when the north grounds of President's Park were thronged with booths, and attending crowds watched horse racing and cockfighting, according to the White House Historical Association.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 6 Aug. 2026
  • Austin Riley drove in the first run of the night with a ground-rule double.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of ground
Noun
  • The modest park sits on less than one acre of land off Parkwood Avenue and includes a playground, a picnic shelter and green space.
    — Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 1 Aug. 2026
  • Ceuta and ‌Melilla, another Spanish autonomous city in northern Morocco, have the European Union’s only land borders with Africa.
    — CNN Money, CNN Money, 31 July 2026
Definition of land
Verb
  • The toes of the woman who wore it must have been stained red.
    — Cynthia Zarin, Harpers Magazine, 4 Aug. 2026
  • Improperly Drying Flammable Items Drying clothes stained with any type of chemical stains such as gasoline, paint thinner, or acetone is a hazard.
    — Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 2 Aug. 2026
Definition of stain
Noun
  • Once more than 20 feet deep in some areas, Lake Jesup today is barely six feet deep as muck and other debris have accumulated on the bottom.
    — Martin E. Comas, The Orlando Sentinel, 19 July 2026
  • Yes, Nolan’s tendency to make the sound editing a bit murky or a bit too loud at times while the dialogue sinks into the sonic muck, all these things are true here.
    — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026
Definition of muck
Noun
  • Around them, the sand and sky are painted so thinly that the weave of the canvas shows through; the shoreline is scumbled; the distant boats are a few strokes of wet on wet paint.
    — Carmen Rosenberg-Miller, Artforum, 6 Aug. 2026
  • Another new attraction that would satisfy a demand from residents is a skate park, which would be placed on the northwest corner where there are now sand volleyball courts.
    — Jim Woods, Chicago Tribune, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of sand
Noun
  • When Etna’s close companion handler Jason is killed after four years in earth-scorching combat, Etna sets out to rediscover his coastal puppyhood home in an unnamed region (Yoon’s details suggest Korea) across a wasteland strewn with refugee camps.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 5 Aug. 2026
  • SpaceX shares soared after the biggest IPO in history about two months ago – but have come back to earth since then, down from both their record high and their IPO price.
    — John Towfighi, CNN Money, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of earth

Browse Nearby Words

soigné
soil
soilage
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Cite this Entry

“Soil.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/soil. Accessed 8 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on soil

Nglish: Translation of soil for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about soil

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