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

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 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
  • Aim to give cucumber plants an inch of water each week from irrigation or rainfall, and water when the top few inches of soil feel dry.
    Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 3 July 2026
  • Water deeply in the morning, check soil moisture regularly, and move plants to shade during heat waves.
    Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 July 2026
Noun
  • The oppressive heat wave lands at the same time the nation is observing 250 years since our Declaration of Independence was approved by the Continental Congress.
    Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 3 July 2026
  • The transfer of 136 acres just south of the community of Westport will mark the first time land managed by the California Department of Transportation has been returned to Indigenous tribes.
    Alex Wigglesworth, Los Angeles Times, 3 July 2026
Noun
  • Since its inception, social media has been a proving ground for tween fashion and identity, offering under-16s a digital canvas to experiment with their style and form online cliques around niche interests.
    Sophie Lou Wilson, Vogue, 2 July 2026
  • During the huge Round of 32 knockout showdown, packed crowds inside the legendary Estadio Azteca generated enough ground movement to trigger local seismic monitoring equipment.
    Alejandro Avila OutKick, FOXNews.com, 2 July 2026
Noun
  • Thousands of fans in Mexico lost their minds and shook the earth.
    Alejandro Avila OutKick, FOXNews.com, 2 July 2026
  • Visitors entering the show don neck rings and wrist bands, the first to add the aromas of earth and flowers to the multi-sensory experience, the second to adjust the visual displays to each person’s emotional response.
    The Week US, TheWeek, 1 July 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Terra firma.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/terra%20firma. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster