1
as in dirt
foul matter that mars the purity or cleanliness of something
got some sort of soil on my white pants
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in dung
solid matter discharged from an animal's alimentary canal
the horse lifted its tail and deposited its soil on the grass
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in ground
the loose surface material in which plants naturally grow
bought rich soil to plant flowers in
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in to stain
to make dirty
oil and grease soiled the mechanic's shirt
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of soil
Greg Sullivan, AFAR Media, 15 Sep. 2025
Battin plans to collect cells, permafrost soils, DNA and other samples for long-term storage.
—Katherine Bourzac, Quanta Magazine, 15 Sep. 2025
Andrea Kane, CNN Money, 19 Aug. 2025
Over the Fourth of July weekend, Neil Saunders, retail analyst and managing director at GlobalData, visited a Target and posted 15 photos on LinkedIn that documented shelves that were understocked (or completely empty), soiled, and in disarray.
—Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 13 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for soil
Noun
Their slow decay provides long-term nutrient reservoirs, helping to build spongy soils that support future forest growth.
—Greg Sullivan, AFAR Media, 15 Sep. 2025
Battin plans to collect cells, permafrost soils, DNA and other samples for long-term storage.
—Katherine Bourzac, Quanta Magazine, 15 Sep. 2025
Verb
Hill said the next step was to just let the cord dry on its own, taking care not to trap it in a wet or soiled diaper for extended periods and to avoid soaking it at bathtime.
—Andrea Kane, CNN Money, 19 Aug. 2025
Over the Fourth of July weekend, Neil Saunders, retail analyst and managing director at GlobalData, visited a Target and posted 15 photos on LinkedIn that documented shelves that were understocked (or completely empty), soiled, and in disarray.
—Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 13 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for soil
Recent Examples of Synonyms for soil
Verb
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Wood filler is the best choice for repairing large, deep gouges, but usually requires staining.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
12 Sep. 2025
-
Inside the retro-futuristic Discoveryland area of Disneyland Paris, a full-size Star Wars X-Wing fighter sits on a silver and blue platform which looks like it has been weathered and stained from battles.—
Caroline Reid,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
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As more success suddenly comes his way, McKinstry has remained the same, friendly and chuckling at his locker, dirtying his jersey and pestering opponents on the field.—
Cody Stavenhagen,
New York Times,
10 July 2025
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Some were prosthetic buttocks, but others were people’s own buttocks, but in various states, like dirtied down and with partial covering.—
Alex Ritman,
Variety,
1 July 2025
Verb
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There are also sparking car engines, microwave ovens, lightning strikes, GPS signals, reflections off the ionosphere, and even bird poop on the antenna to muck things up.—
David Szondy
July 27,
New Atlas,
27 July 2025
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After 30 years of mucking about with a kings-of-Britpop rivalry, Damon Albarn is admitting what everyone and Flimsy Steve have known for some time: Oasis is a bigger deal than Blur.—
Devon Ivie,
Vulture,
11 July 2025
Verb
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High-Heat-Safe Alternatives While enameled cast-iron cookware is excellent to use for braising, roasting, baking, or gentle stovetop cooking, certain high heat applications like searing steak or blackening fish are best done in other types of pans, like traditional cast iron or stainless steel.—
Katie Rosenhouse,
Southern Living,
10 Sep. 2025
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Her boyfriend had hit her hard enough to blacken her eye.—
Krista Kafer,
Denver Post,
8 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Soil.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/soil. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
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