wharf

noun

ˈ(h)wȯrf How to pronounce wharf (audio)
Definition of wharfnext
as in dock
a structure used by boats and ships for taking on or landing cargo and passengers tied the rowboat up at the wharf

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 wharf Shaking from a quake could damage wharves, piers, buildings and roadway above the seawall. — Los Angeles Times, 20 July 2026 Vanuatu has received large loans and aid from China for buildings, wharves and other infrastructure. — ABC News, 29 June 2026 The father wanted nets and the smell of the wharf. — Anthony Scaramucci, Fortune, 28 June 2026 This former wharf on the Mississippi is now an uninterrupted pedestrian pathway, with a pavilion, a children’s area, misting stations, and workout options. — Jenny Adams, Travel + Leisure, 24 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for wharf
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wharf
  1. dock
  2. pier
  3. quay
Noun
  • Pennsylvania ruffs liked large-toothed aspen, grapes, hawthorns, docks and acorns.
    — Tom Huggler, Outdoor Life, 13 Aug. 2026
  • The new industrial buildings would have a maximum height of 45 feet, and include several hundred off-street loading docks.
    — Brian J. Rogal, Chicago Tribune, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of dock
Noun
  • Today, the town’s Victorian grandeur is rotting and crumbling away, its cast-iron piers corroded by sea salt.
    — George Francis Lee, New Yorker, 12 Aug. 2026
  • The original location on the bay includes seating at picnic tables on the pier overlooking Crab Island.
    — Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of pier
Noun
  • Three Yemeni government sources told Reuters air defenses were engaging drones launched by the Houthis toward the commercial quay and storage in the port.
    — Reuters, NBC news, 9 Aug. 2026
  • Emergency services evacuated everyone from the vessel and the surrounding quay after the leak was detected and carried out air quality measurements.
    — Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 15 July 2026
Definition of quay

Browse Nearby Words

whangs
wharf
wharfage
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Cite this Entry

“Wharf.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wharf. Accessed 17 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on wharf

Nglish: Translation of wharf for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about wharf

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