as in bays
a part of a body of water that extends beyond the general shoreline
the city sits on the shores of a deep estuary where the Hudson River meets the Atlantic Ocean
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Recent Examples of estuaries
In a new study, Daniel Petras, a biochemist at UC Riverside — together with 29 researchers from around the world — looked at 2,315 seawater samples collected from estuaries, coastal regions, coral reefs and the open ocean.
—
Susanne Rust
follow, Los Angeles Times, 16 Mar. 2026
These sharks are thought to be bottom-feeders, preying on fish that frequent the floors of rivers and estuaries.
—John P. Rafferty, Encyclopedia Britannica, 13 Mar. 2026
Take an ecotour with Pawleys Island Guide Services to explore the marshes, deltas, tidal creeks, and estuaries that wind their way around the island.
—Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 12 Mar. 2026
The area represents one of the largest undeveloped estuaries on the East Coast.
—Thad Moore, AJC.com, 10 Mar. 2026
In estuaries like the one at Cape Fear, deepening a channel can allow tides and storm surges to push farther upriver, bringing salt water with them.
—Patrick Sisson, Scientific American, 9 Mar. 2026
Cows are responsible for many millions of pounds of nitrogen every year, polluting Florida’s springs, rivers and estuaries.
—Harper West, Sun Sentinel, 5 Mar. 2026
Its alabaster beaches are perfect for shelling, sunset strolls, or spotting dolphins frolicking in the surf, while nearby mangroves and estuaries teem with even more wildlife.
—Carrie Honaker, Travel + Leisure, 5 Mar. 2026
This is Florida’s largest urban park, a sprawling preserve of tangled mangroves and tidal estuaries set against Biscayne Bay.
—Taylor Haught, Miami Herald, 4 Mar. 2026
Susanne Rust
follow, Los Angeles Times, 16 Mar. 2026
These sharks are thought to be bottom-feeders, preying on fish that frequent the floors of rivers and estuaries.
—John P. Rafferty, Encyclopedia Britannica, 13 Mar. 2026
Take an ecotour with Pawleys Island Guide Services to explore the marshes, deltas, tidal creeks, and estuaries that wind their way around the island.
—Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 12 Mar. 2026
The area represents one of the largest undeveloped estuaries on the East Coast.
—Thad Moore, AJC.com, 10 Mar. 2026
In estuaries like the one at Cape Fear, deepening a channel can allow tides and storm surges to push farther upriver, bringing salt water with them.
—Patrick Sisson, Scientific American, 9 Mar. 2026
Cows are responsible for many millions of pounds of nitrogen every year, polluting Florida’s springs, rivers and estuaries.
—Harper West, Sun Sentinel, 5 Mar. 2026
Its alabaster beaches are perfect for shelling, sunset strolls, or spotting dolphins frolicking in the surf, while nearby mangroves and estuaries teem with even more wildlife.
—Carrie Honaker, Travel + Leisure, 5 Mar. 2026
This is Florida’s largest urban park, a sprawling preserve of tangled mangroves and tidal estuaries set against Biscayne Bay.
—Taylor Haught, Miami Herald, 4 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for estuaries
bays
Noun
-
Top 5 Can’t Miss Sleep on the shores of one of Japan’s most scenic bays in the upscale Matsushima Sakan Shoan ryokan.—
Zoe Baillargeon,
Travel + Leisure,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Others, like the ribbon weed that grows in the bays of Gathaagudu, Australia, poke their flowers from tiny spikes atop leafless stems.—
David George Haskell,
Big Think,
27 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Estuaries.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/estuaries. Accessed 7 Apr. 2026.
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