as in loam
a brown or black material in soil that is formed when plants and animals decay
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Recent Examples of humus
Burnt soil has obviously lost any mulch that had been present as well as the layer of decomposing organic material or humus just below it.
—
Joshua Siskin, Orange County Register, 8 Feb. 2025
Including the sand provides better drainage, and the humus in the compost holds nutrients and provides moisture control.
—Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 July 2024
When separating clumps, add humus to the new planting area, spread roots out, and water well for smooth transplanting.
—Kristin Guy, Sunset Magazine, 6 Feb. 2024
Ashes to ashes, dust to dust, and all that humus rot.
—Chris Bohjalian, Washington Post, 9 Nov. 2023
See All Example Sentences for humus
Joshua Siskin, Orange County Register, 8 Feb. 2025
Including the sand provides better drainage, and the humus in the compost holds nutrients and provides moisture control.
—Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 July 2024
When separating clumps, add humus to the new planting area, spread roots out, and water well for smooth transplanting.
—Kristin Guy, Sunset Magazine, 6 Feb. 2024
Ashes to ashes, dust to dust, and all that humus rot.
—Chris Bohjalian, Washington Post, 9 Nov. 2023
See All Example Sentences for humus
Recent Examples of Synonyms for humus
Noun
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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
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The region's soils consist of limestone, clay, and iron-rich loams.—
Joseph V Micallef,
Forbes.com,
21 Aug. 2025
Noun
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High winds brought loose topsoil across the state and into the city, limiting visibility and shocking meteorologists who had not documented a weather event of this kind in the city since the Dust Bowl of the 1930s.—
Julia Rendleman,
ProPublica,
5 Sep. 2025
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Dudas ended up using the boulder in his landscaping, making space for the massive rock in his front yard, adding mulch, topsoil, and indigenous plants to the area, as well as other smaller rocks.—
Meredith Wilshere,
People.com,
31 Aug. 2025
Noun
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And these survived only because clay and salt in the surrounding soil protected them from further decay.—
Dirk Schulze-Makuch,
Big Think,
17 Sep. 2025
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Smoothing round poppy seeds and sea salt—which do the gentle buffing—come suspended in a hunk of detoxifying French blue clay, nourishing olive fruit oil, and zingy peppermint essential oil, the latter of which wakes you up better than any iPhone alarm.—
Sophia Panych,
Allure,
16 Sep. 2025
Noun
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In an effort to cut down on this waste, researchers have figured out a way to send electric pulses through the mud to purify it and allow it to be reused instead of discarded.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
17 Sep. 2025
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There may be switches or a dial on the center console that can be used to make the ride softer, the handling more precise and/or to maximize traction while driving over snow, mud or rocks.—
Jim Gorzelany,
Forbes.com,
17 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Humus.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/humus. Accessed 20 Sep. 2025.
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