loam

noun

Definition of loamnext
as in topsoil
a type of soil that is good for growing plants

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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 loam Is the soil a porous, well-draining loam, or a rocky clay that will be hard to dig in and harder to drain? — Anthony Reardon, Kansas City Star, 25 Feb. 2026 Asparagus prefers soil with plenty of organic matter, and that's well-drained, with an almost sandy-loam consistency. — Samantha Johnson, Martha Stewart, 23 Feb. 2026 The soils, shaped by glacial activity, consist of sandy loam and glacial till, offering excellent drainage and contributing natural minerality. — Michael Johnson, Twin Cities, 23 Feb. 2026 But the conflict between Joe and Ted goes back further and is rooted in a deep loam of backstory that emerges bit by bit. — Richard Brody, New Yorker, 5 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for loam
Recent Examples of Synonyms for loam
  1. topsoil
  2. humus
  3. clay
  4. mud
  5. gravel
  6. sand
  7. earth
Noun
  • This living ground cover prevents soil erosion, retains moisture, and adds organic matter to topsoil.
    — Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Research after previous wildfires found that up to 34% of properties still contained hazardous contamination, such as heavy metals, even after the debris had been removed and the topsoil scraped away.
    — Andrew J. Whelton, The Conversation, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of topsoil
Noun
  • This includes decaying plant and animal residues, humus, and living microorganisms.
    — Rae Ford, Martha Stewart, 8 June 2026
  • Composting in the garden is just a way of speeding up the natural process that creates soil all over the world, as organisms such as bacteria, fungi, insects and earthworms consume dead plants to make humus.
    — Beth Botts, Chicago Tribune, 31 May 2026
Definition of humus
Noun
  • At this unassuming spot in Jardim Botânico, Sudbrack skillfully uses a traditional clay oven to draw remarkable flavors from the simplest of seasonal, fresh, and local ingredients.
    — Mikael Castro, Travel + Leisure, 15 Aug. 2026
  • Locations included the port city of Essaouira and Aït Benhaddou, known for its earthen clay fortresses, in Morocco, Sicily’s Favignana and Castello di Santa Caterina, and Nestor’s Cave in Greece for the Cyclops sequence.
    — Brittany Anas, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of clay
Noun
  • Hurricane Lala tore roofs off houses, uprooted trees, covered roads in mud and rocks and left many households without electricity.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 20 Aug. 2026
  • The tailings from that process, called red mud, contain gallium.
    — Sydney Sasser, Arkansas Online, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of mud
Noun
  • The gravel runway is nearly 4,000 feet long and is located on the slope of a more-than-2,300-foot-high mountain, according to FAA maps.
    — Aaron Cooper, CNN Money, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Vibram said the rubber compound performs in wet and dry conditions, with particular emphasis on grip across wet gravel and mixed terrain.
    — Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of gravel
Noun
  • Dozens of sunken skiffs and speedboats, long written off by their owners, sat dry on the sand.
    — Elizabeth Wolfe, CNN Money, 21 Aug. 2026
  • While there is a small boardwalk on the sand in between loungers, it’d be tricky to access for anyone with mobility issues.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of sand
Noun
  • Large flower arrangements lie on the pile of earth; a traditional embroidered cloth drapes over the cross.
    — Ivana Kottasová, CNN Money, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Above ground, others work in open pits, digging through and sorting earth in search of gold.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of earth

Browse Nearby Words

loafs
loam
loams
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Cite this Entry

“Loam.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/loam. Accessed 22 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on loam

Nglish: Translation of loam for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about loam

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