Thesaurus results for TERRA FIRMA

terra firma

noun

ˌter-ə-ˈfər-mə

Definition of terra firma

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

Relevance

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 There might be a fight to escape, but even those few who crawl over rocks and grit and sand to reach terra firma find their surroundings changed. — Literary Hub, 18 May 2026 On terra firma, most of the available supply of helium-3 comes as a by-product of nuclear weaponry via the radioactive decay of tritium, a rare isotope of hydrogen that boosts the power of thermonuclear bombs. — Robin George Andrews, Scientific American, 14 May 2026 Containers aren’t just for urban gardeners who lack space or terra firma. — Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 4 May 2026 Those folks at Six Flags Fiesta Texas in San Antonio were only dangling 200 feet above terra firma for ten minutes, but for this hombre, that’s ten minutes too many. — Matt Reigle Outkick, FOXNews.com, 1 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for terra firma

Recent Examples of Synonyms for terra firma

Noun

That includes soil or fertilizer in the field, farmworkers’ hands, processing and shipping, other shoppers and cross-contamination at home.

— Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 3 Nov. 2026
The work includes excavation to retrieve a soil sample and debris removal, as well as installing sandbags to mitigate further damage from strong waves and coastal erosion.

— Tracy Brown, Los Angeles Times, 3 Nov. 2026

Definition of soil

Noun

Its original location on a spit of land between the Atlantic Ocean and the salt pond may have been a bit too ambitious—after suffering damage from the 1938 New England Hurricane, it was relocated across the pond, reopening in 1939.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 31 Oct. 2026
The Benbrook City Council passed an ordinance aimed at restricting development in flood-prone areas a year after a home builder sought to develop a section of land in the Mary’s Creek floodplain.

— Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 Oct. 2026

Definition of land

Noun

These connections replicate those planned for the tokamak and will allow engineers to assess the magnet’s high-voltage ground insulation.

— Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 4 Nov. 2026
The spot sparked national bipartisan backlash on grounds that Acton's mother had lost custody of her children decades ago after her husband, their stepfather, was indicted for raping Acton as a child.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 4 Nov. 2026

Definition of ground

Noun

Johansson won his Sens debut last month but has come back to earth in his last two appearances.

— Julian McKenzie, New York Times, 5 Nov. 2026
Inflation had come back down to earth in the last year of Joe Biden’s presidency, but that wasn’t enough to convince voters to give Democrats another chance in 2024.

— David Goldman, CNN Money, 4 Nov. 2026

Definition of earth

Browse Nearby Words

terraces

terra firma

terrain

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Terra firma.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/terra%20firma. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of terra firma

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

quondam

Popular in Grammar & Usage

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Old-Timey Vehicles

The Words of the Week - Nov. 6

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes