Definition of terra firmanext
as in soil
the solid part of our planet's surface as distinguished from the sea and air after that nightmarish storm, the sailors were grateful to reach terra firma

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 terra firma Her leadership has been just as essential on terra firma, guiding SpaceX in its recent acquisition of xAI as well as the April announcement of its IPO. Arianna Huffington, Time, 15 Apr. 2026 And that's important, because Orion — like the Apollo capsules before it — is designed to splash down in the ocean, not land on terra firma. Mike Wall, Space.com, 10 Apr. 2026 The same equipment that keeps the Grenadier gripped up and comfortable on the terra firma also behooves its ride around town. Peter Nelson, Forbes.com, 28 Jan. 2026 Yet the sensation of a work that, in translation from one medium to another, no longer defies gravity but sort of roughly plummets back down to terra firma can’t easily be shaken off. David Fear, Rolling Stone, 18 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for terra firma
Recent Examples of Synonyms for terra firma
Noun
  • Cats become infected by eating raw meat, birds, mice or contaminated soil, and only cats that are actively shedding parasites in their stool can spread it.
    Dr. Megan Yanny, Boston Herald, 31 May 2026
  • Plant them at least 12 inches apart from each other and bury them completely in soil, leaving only the leaves exposed.
    Asia London Palomba, The Spruce, 31 May 2026
Noun
  • So how did Breslow land on Durbin as the target as opposed to, say, another infielder with more power but less defense?
    Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 30 May 2026
  • In it, a Native Hawaiian family struggles to reclaim the ancestral lands that colonization, tourism, and rampant development threaten to overrun.
    Gabrielle Bellot, Literary Hub, 29 May 2026
Noun
  • In state elections this month an alliance led by above-ground communist parties was voted out in the southern state of Kerala, the first time in decades that Marxist political parties are not in power in any of India’s states or territories.
    Dhruv Tikekar, CNN Money, 30 May 2026
  • The project, which broke ground about a year ago, was funded through a combination of state matching funds and remaining city of Mission Viejo redevelopment funds.
    Heather McRea, Oc Register, 29 May 2026
Noun
  • Here, references to bears (in Bruin’s name, Colin’s fur suit, and Doane’s favorite hockey team), the talismanic power of household appliances, and the sunken earth keep recurring.
    Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 3 June 2026
  • Think about having a micro-personalized tutor for every person on earth, a micro-personalized nurse.
    Diane Brady, Fortune, 2 June 2026

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“Terra firma.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/terra%20firma. Accessed 7 Jun. 2026.

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