moat

Definition of moatnext
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

Related Words

Relevance

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 The frontier model business, which attracted billions in capital on the premise that raw intelligence would be the moat, is facing a structural credibility problem. Josipa Majic Predin, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026 Now that the fairy tale ended a long time ago, their incredible businesses, tremendous leadership, and franchises — moats — keep them a big part of the S & P 500 and the biggest part of tech, which is the biggest part of everything. Jim Cramer, CNBC, 28 June 2026 The pivot that built the moat Like most multifamily firms at scale, Ashland Greene started with third-party property management. Nia Bowers, USA Today, 25 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for moat
Recent Examples of Synonyms for moat
Noun
  • But the gold seekers, the ‘49ers, immediately set to digging ditches and canals to divert water, and so the new state soon allowed that practice, too.
    Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2026
  • An injured fawn trapped in a Loomis ditch got a second chance thanks to a rescue by South Placer Fire District firefighters.
    Nicole Buss, Sacbee.com, 1 July 2026
Noun
  • The most common is to apply liquid termiticide in a trench in the soil around your house.
    Arricca Elin SanSone, Southern Living, 25 June 2026
  • This poppy red trench is the kind of summer statement piece that’s worth the investment, especially with this discount.
    Aemilia Madden, Vogue, 18 June 2026
Noun
  • More than 1 billion gallons of ash spilled into waterways and neighboring properties after a dike ruptured.
    Christiana Freitag, Chicago Tribune, 13 June 2026
  • This is absolutely elite stuff all around, a whirlwind of the Knicks finding the net opening and making the right play, and the Spurs scrambling like mad to plug each new hole in the dike before finally Wembanyama seals it with a block at the rim.
    John Hollinger, New York Times, 10 June 2026
Noun
  • Assessing a culvert takes time.
    Doug Ross, Chicago Tribune, 27 June 2026
  • The funding will also help pay for the replacement of a large drainage culvert near Sierra College Boulevard on English Colony Way at Clover Valley Creek, along with the construction of a new bridge and roadway improvements on Garden Bar Road at Doty Ravine.
    Nicole Buss, Sacbee.com, 10 June 2026
Noun
  • Brazilian fandom is a funny thing, both in its complexity — Brazil, as one of its great cultural figures once said, is not for beginners — and in the ha-ha sense.
    Jack Lang, New York Times, 25 June 2026
  • Workers repairing a ha-ha, a ditch traditionally used to contain livestock without interrupting the view across an estate, uncovered a tunnel entrance, along with Tudor-era artifacts including pottery, bones, and glass bottles.
    Anne Doran, ARTnews.com, 15 June 2026
Noun
  • When camping in an open environment, select a campsite in a valley, ravine, or low region.
    NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 27 June 2026
  • When camping in an open environment, select a campsite in a valley, ravine, or low region.
    KANSAS CITY STAR WEATHER BOT, Kansas City Star, 25 June 2026
Noun
  • Residents, meanwhile, can help the town’s efforts by reducing standing water around their homes, keeping their lawns mowed and trimmed, keeping rain barrels covered or screened, and cleaning their gutters regularly to prevent accumulated water.
    Michelle L. Quinn, Chicago Tribune, 29 June 2026
  • Clean gutters and drains, inspect roofs for loose or damaged materials, trim trees and secure outdoor furniture and decorations.
    Stephen Hauptman, Sun Sentinel, 28 June 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Moat.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/moat. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on moat

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster