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 were plenty of close encounters of the animal kind on terra firma. Robin Catalano, Chicago Tribune, 14 May 2025 Horseback riding, tennis and falcon encounters fill the bill back on terra firma, as well as copious hiking trails just steps from your outdoor patio, with views of the Point Vicente Lighthouse and the Terranea Sea Salt Conservatory. David Weiss, Forbes.com, 29 Apr. 2025 During her first press conference back on terra firma this week, Williams suggested this orbital Olympics for aero-robots might also help NASA discover its astronauts, coders and inventors of the next generation. Kevin Holden Platt, Forbes.com, 3 Apr. 2025 Some aircraft have coffee machines on board (for example, Flexjet’s fleet has Nespresso machines), but anything fancier than that might be better on terra firma. Nicole Trilivas, Travel + Leisure, 25 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for terra firma
Recent Examples of Synonyms for terra firma
Noun
  • Growing requirements will vary by species, but most appreciate partial to full shade and rich, moist soil. Bring one of the easiest house plants around to the outdoors.
    Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 29 June 2025
  • The cool climate and unique terroir (chalk soil) where the three main grape varieties are grown (Pinot noir, Chardonnay, Meunier) contribute to the wine’s unique flavors.
    Joanne Shurvell, Forbes.com, 28 June 2025
Noun
  • The Gritti’s dock-manager to Grazer’s left, foreground right in the shot, may be suspicious that his sturdy right elbow, offered for support during that parlous little leap from land to sea, is being roundly ignored.
    Guy Martin, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
  • Lake Fire has been burning on federal land managed by the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
    CA WILDFIRE BOT, Sacbee.com, 1 July 2025
Noun
  • Dating apps, including Tinder, are fertile ground for scams, according to various consumer protection sources including the FBI and Federal Trade Commission.
    Anne Marie D. Lee, CBS News, 30 June 2025
  • Zooming in on the image, however, I was struck less by what Allen was up to—innocently snapping photos on the festival grounds—than what loomed behind her: an array of Native American-style tipis, forming a mini village just a stone’s throw away from the main stages.
    Christian Allaire, Vogue, 30 June 2025
Noun
  • Why on earth would Amazon invest such substantial amounts in human capital with an eye on shedding it?
    John Tamny, Forbes.com, 2 July 2025
  • That’s right, at current rates, by around the middle of this century, the earth won’t have enough land to feed its ever-growing population—this is also very bad!
    Literary Hub July 1, Literary Hub, 1 July 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Terra firma.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/terra%20firma. Accessed 9 Jul. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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