moat

as in ditch
a deep, wide excavation that is usually filled with water and that goes around the walls of a place (such as a castle) to protect it from being attacked

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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 moat This creates a moat that grass roots will struggle to get across. Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 May 2025 It can also be hung from a tree or fence and features an ant moat to keep insects out. Bestreviews, Mercury News, 30 Apr. 2025 Another federal judge found last year that Google engaged in anticompetitive conduct by building a moat around its monopoly over search, saying that customers got a lower-quality experience on the internet. Winston Cho, HollywoodReporter, 17 Apr. 2025 Once an important feudal stronghold deep in the Japanese Alps, Matsumoto is known today for its towering castle; arguably the most stunning fortification in the entire country with its black-onyx trim and turquoise moat filled with curious koi. Brandon Presser, Vogue, 6 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for moat
Recent Examples of Synonyms for moat
Noun
  • Stay informed and follow these tips from the NWS to ensure safety during heavy rainfall: Beware of swollen waterways: Avoid parking or walking in close proximity to culverts or drainage ditches, as the swiftly moving water during heavy rain can potentially carry you away.
    Bay Area Weather Report, Mercury News, 25 May 2025
  • Here’s your guide from the NWS to staying safe during downpours: Beware of rapid water flow: During heavy rain, avoid parking or walking near culverts or drainage ditches, where swift-moving water can pose a serious risk.
    Southern California Weather Report, Oc Register, 24 May 2025
Noun
  • The brand also quickly sold out of the faux leather trench, minidress and Moto gloves.
    Catherine Santino, People.com, 4 June 2025
  • The reactor will sit in an underground trench 25 feet deep and 80 feet long, covered by concrete and serviced by a 40-ton crane.
    Jennifer Kite-Powell, Forbes.com, 27 May 2025
Noun
  • In the short run, adaptation—dikes and levees to protect flood-prone cities, relocating residences away from eroding coasts—can help.
    Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 30 May 2025
  • In addition, their burrows can damage or weaken levees, dikes and stream banks.
    Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 2 May 2025
Noun
  • Follow these recommendations from the NWS to stay safe in heavy rain: Beware of swollen waterways: Avoid parking or walking in close proximity to culverts or drainage ditches, as the swiftly moving water during heavy rain can potentially carry you away.
    Bay Area Weather Report, Mercury News, 1 June 2025
  • Stay informed and follow these tips from the NWS to ensure safety during heavy rainfall: Beware of swollen waterways: During heavy rain, avoid parking or walking near culverts or drainage ditches, where swift-moving water can pose a serious risk.
    Southern California Weather Report, Oc Register, 1 June 2025
Noun
  • Photo : Will Eastwick-Field; Savills Terraced lawns lead to a ha-ha at the garden’s southern edge.
    Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 12 May 2025
  • This is the sequel’s real ha-ha-ha punchline.
    David Fear, Rolling Stone, 3 Oct. 2024
Noun
  • The cyclist was helped from the ravine and emergency services transported him on a stretcher to the hospital.
    Natasha Dye, People.com, 27 May 2025
  • When camping in an open environment, select a campsite in a valley, ravine, or low region.
    STAR-TELEGRAM WEATHER BOT, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 26 May 2025
Noun
  • Ultimately the best flight sailed out over the driveway and across the sidewalk, and then curved to the right up the street until landing in a gutter of the adjacent property approximately 65 feet away.
    Michael Monson, Christian Science Monitor, 21 May 2025
  • During a previous hearing, applicant Brian Will — who as DPR chairman recused himself from the committee’s discussion and vote — said the city of San Diego is requesting installation of a sidewalk, curb and gutter as part of the project, though there are no other sidewalks in the immediate area.
    Ashley Mackin Solomon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 May 2025

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“Moat.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/moat. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.

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