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

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 moat In the plundering of the castle, the abatises were tossed into the moat. Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 5 Mar. 2025 The way to spot a strong moat is to look at the company’s market position. Paulina Likos, CNBC, 1 Mar. 2025 Ongoing efforts are afoot to create moats or enact barriers to prevent their competitors from copying their distinct accomplishments. Lance Eliot, Forbes, 21 Mar. 2025 Beyond simply being remote, the continent has been isolated for millions of years by the Antarctic Circumpolar Current, which surrounds it like a moat around a castle. Ashley Balzer Vigil, Scientific American, 21 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for moat
Recent Examples of Synonyms for moat
Noun
  • Foxes with tails that float behind them, light as scarves, frolic in a ditch.
    Sarah Matusek, Christian Science Monitor, 4 Apr. 2025
  • 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, 1 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • The Bucks can’t afford to cough up the ball in their own trenches.
    Brian Sampson, Forbes.com, 18 Apr. 2025
  • This sophisticated trench is crafted to withstand both rain and wind while maintaining a breathable feel.
    Gabrielle Porcaro, Travel + Leisure, 9 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • The fifth season, then, premiered in the noxious contrail of the Dobbs decision, which silenced those who believed a 1973 Supreme Court case could serve as a permanent finger in the political dike.
    Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 3 Apr. 2025
  • Miss Maynard’s class is building Holland on a small scale in one of their sandbox tables with dikes, towers, windmills, boys with wooden shoes and girls with flaxen hair.
    Contributed Content, Twin Cities, 7 Feb. 2025
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, 1 Apr. 2025
  • Here’s your guide from the NWS to staying safe during downpours: 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, The Mercury News, 17 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • This is the sequel’s real ha-ha-ha punchline.
    David Fear, Rolling Stone, 3 Oct. 2024
  • There’s one last ha-ha to be had: Jankie is revived and the cast participates in one last Jankie singalong!
    Nick Caruso, TVLine, 13 Oct. 2024
Noun
  • Baboons respond with sharp warning cries that echo through the ravine.
    Julia Eskins, Vogue, 26 Mar. 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 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • But during city reviews, officials asked for a curb, gutter and sidewalk across the length of the frontage, which would destroy the trees.
    Ashley Mackin Solomon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Apr. 2025
  • Drew Guthrie, of the same engineering firm, said the drainage would be improved with development of the property as the construction would include a curb and gutter system and three drainage areas.
    Rachel Royster, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Moat.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/moat. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.

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