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
Brunch might mean a humus bowl layered with lamb and pickled onion, or a shakshuka made with black lime tomato stew.
—
Rai Mincey, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Unless the compost is fully broken down into humus, this incorporation will also work organic matter into the soil, which helps with aeration and further supports microorganisms.
—Anthony Reardon, Kansas City Star, 25 July 2025
Closer and closer, the aroma draws me like a magnet…sun on granite, black humus, balsam fir, and a faint whiff of yellow birch smoke.
—Literary Hub, 2 June 2025
Collectively, these leftovers become part of the humus of the soil, helping retain water and support soil-dwelling microbes, invertebrates and roots.
—Katarina Zimmer, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for humus
Rai Mincey, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Unless the compost is fully broken down into humus, this incorporation will also work organic matter into the soil, which helps with aeration and further supports microorganisms.
—Anthony Reardon, Kansas City Star, 25 July 2025
Closer and closer, the aroma draws me like a magnet…sun on granite, black humus, balsam fir, and a faint whiff of yellow birch smoke.
—Literary Hub, 2 June 2025
Collectively, these leftovers become part of the humus of the soil, helping retain water and support soil-dwelling microbes, invertebrates and roots.
—Katarina Zimmer, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for humus
Recent Examples of Synonyms for humus
Noun
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Sandy soil is more prone to hydrophobia than loam or clay.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
23 Apr. 2026
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Soil types include gravel and sedimentary loam closer to the river and volcanic rock distributed on the hillsides, a combination that adds distinct aromas, flavors, and minerality to the wines made here.—
Mike DeSimone,
Robb Report,
9 Apr. 2026
Noun
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In 2023, a cadaver dog alerted to topsoil near where the patio had been built in the home’s backyard, but as authorities dug deeper, the dog stopped picking up the scent, law enforcement sources said.—
Lillie Davidson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
14 May 2026
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Tenant farmers from Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas and Missouri who had lost everything to drought, collapsed crop prices and a decade of wind that stripped the topsoil off the plains migrated their families in hopes of survival.—
Jasmine Desiree,
Los Angeles Times,
12 May 2026
Noun
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When Middleton opens her suitcase at Kensington Palace—along with files on the Reggio Approach, perhaps there lies a recipe for erbazzone and maybe some clay to take to the children.—
Stefania Saltalamacchia,
Vanity Fair,
15 May 2026
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Noll was a French artist and furniture-maker whose work with wood made the material feel and look like clay to sensuous effect.—
Wendy Goodman,
Curbed,
15 May 2026
Noun
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The water had a tinge of mud in it, a sign of spring runoff, explained Bliss.—
Alan Gionet,
CBS News,
19 May 2026
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Argentine investigators trudging through mud to retrieve the dead rats declined to speak to journalists about their work.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
19 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Humus.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/humus. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
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