soil 1 of 3

noun (1)

Definition of soilnext
1
as in dirt
foul matter that mars the purity or cleanliness of something got some sort of soil on my white pants

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in dung
solid matter discharged from an animal's alimentary canal the horse lifted its tail and deposited its soil on the grass

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soil

2 of 3

noun (2)

1
as in ground
the loose surface material in which plants naturally grow bought rich soil to plant flowers in

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2
as in land
the solid part of our planet's surface as distinguished from the sea and air happy to have soil under my feet after that long sea voyage

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soil

3 of 3

verb

ˈsȯi(-ə)l How to pronounce soil (audio)
as in to stain
to make dirty oil and grease soiled the mechanic's shirt

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 soil
Noun
In one photo from the book, two paltry berries rest on a man’s open palm, fresh soil under his fingernails. — Ana Karina Zatarain, New Yorker, 15 Aug. 2026 As spring rolls into Idaho every year, the snow starts to melt and the chilly water flows down the mountains through soil and streams. — Idaho Statesman, 15 Aug. 2026
Verb
Root vegetables like potatoes and carrots require some degree of tilling to harvest at scale and is less damaging to soil health than glyphosate. — Andrew Watman, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026 Before shaking the queen’s hand, Moore carefully wiped the sweat and mud from his hands and jersey so as not to soil the queen’s white gloves. — Stefania Conrieri, Vanity Fair, 15 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for soil
Recent Examples of Synonyms for soil
  1. dirt
  2. dung
  3. ground
  4. land
  5. stain
  6. muck
  7. sand
  8. earth
Noun
  • Astronomer and space historian Jonathan McDowell says that many rocket stages and other objects left in orbit between Earth and the moon since the first lunar missions in the 1960s may have ended up on the gray dirt.
    — Tereza Pultarova, Space.com, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Gatwood hoped to put in a new fence and was raking some rocks and dirt to make the yard smoother.
    — Summer Lin, Los Angeles Times, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of dirt
Noun
  • Behind the cookline equipment, the rodent dung shared space with 20 dead roaches.
    — David J. Neal July 24, Miami Herald, 24 July 2026
  • When not elbow-deep in dino dung or outrunning raptors, Laura Dern's heartfelt performance in Jurassic Park shows why women really deserve to inherit the Earth — and all of the acting awards.
    — Huntley Woods, Entertainment Weekly, 11 June 2026
Definition of dung
Noun
  • The endorsements carry weight because unions give money to campaigns and provide boots-on-the-ground support to get out the vote.
    — Kate Armanini, Chicago Tribune, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Those supporters have done their club proud, a point embodied by the gradual improvements made to a ground Exeter were once threatened with eviction from under previous owners.
    — Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of ground
Noun
  • Digital artist Lily Belmira has created a free video game that recreates the environment of Michael Heizer’s monumental land art sculpture City, 1970–2022, in the Nevada desert.
    — News Desk, Artforum, 14 Aug. 2026
  • On top of the congestion problem, the Strait of Hormuz disruption is also forcing carriers to rely on more expensive alternative routings and land bridges, tacking on substantial operational costs.
    — Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of land
Verb
  • Incomplete, broken, and damaged or stained items and clothing should be thrown out.
    — The Spruce, The Spruce, 11 Aug. 2026
  • On the floor were six cots and a couple of mattresses, stained and foul-smelling.
    — Joshua Yaffa, New Yorker, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of stain
Noun
  • Mops of ghostly streamers, some of them longer than my arm, were waving like tentacles atop layers of black muck.
    — James Dinneen, New Yorker, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Even when House of the Dragon is at its best, the prophecy skitters in to make a muck of things.
    — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of muck
Noun
  • Look for oval depressions in sunny patches of sand where grouse took dust baths.
    — Tom Huggler, Outdoor Life, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Most are no larger than a particle of dust, or grain of sand.
    — Anthony Wood, Space.com, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of sand
Noun
  • Pnoēs Tinos, on the island’s southern tip, is designed by architect Aristides Dallas around the elements of earth, wind, and water.
    — Monica Mendal, Vogue, 10 Aug. 2026
  • There’s been a lot of dialogue about the possibility that extraterrestrials have visited the earth or at least our atmosphere.
    — Mikey O'Connell, HollywoodReporter, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of earth

Browse Nearby Words

soigné
soil
soilage
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Soil.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/soil. Accessed 18 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on soil

Nglish: Translation of soil for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about soil

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