as in loam
a brown or black material in soil that is formed when plants and animals decay
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Examples 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 humus
Ashes to ashes, dust to dust, and all that humus rot.
—
Chris Bohjalian, Washington Post, 9 Nov. 2023
Strobe lights periodically illuminated three large heaps of compost, flecked with humus; a machine puffed artificial fog.
—Anna Wiener, The New Yorker, 13 Nov. 2023
No matter how it is described, the humus-like material distributed to gardeners, neighborhood groups and landscapers by the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District is still sewage sludge — a byproduct of human excrement and industrial waste from Chicago and the Cook County suburbs.
—Chicago Tribune Staff, Chicago Tribune, 12 Sep. 2022
Put some humus in there, keep it simple.
—Town & Country, 21 Mar. 2021
See all Example Sentences for humus 
Chris Bohjalian, Washington Post, 9 Nov. 2023
Strobe lights periodically illuminated three large heaps of compost, flecked with humus; a machine puffed artificial fog.
—Anna Wiener, The New Yorker, 13 Nov. 2023
No matter how it is described, the humus-like material distributed to gardeners, neighborhood groups and landscapers by the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District is still sewage sludge — a byproduct of human excrement and industrial waste from Chicago and the Cook County suburbs.
—Chicago Tribune Staff, Chicago Tribune, 12 Sep. 2022
Put some humus in there, keep it simple.
—Town & Country, 21 Mar. 2021
See all Example Sentences for humus
Recent Examples of Synonyms for humus
Noun
-
The soils consist of clay, limestone, and gravel loams.Joseph V Micallef, Forbes, 17 Sep. 2024
-
Conspiracy of the flesh is Kennedy’s root allure, the bloody loam of his candidacy, and maybe even his psyche.Time, Time, 9 Aug. 2023
Noun
-
These practices consume fossil fuel, water, and topsoil at unsustainable rates and contribute to numerous forms of environmental degradation and soil depletion, diminishing biodiversity.Judith Magyar, Forbes, 24 Oct. 2024
-
Some residents are allowed to visit their homes but can’t move back there while thousands of workers remove topsoil, branches, and other materials to decontaminate these areas.Amanda Kennell, Discover Magazine, 19 Oct. 2024
Noun
-
Locally crafted natural materials, clay pottery, and artifacts bring a sense of place throughout the resort.Dobrina Zhekova, Travel + Leisure, 17 Dec. 2024
-
Rolling hills, and a mix of clay and limestone soils, host grapes like Malvazija Istarska, Teran, and Borgonja.Lauren Mowery, Forbes, 17 Dec. 2024
Noun
-
My one big gripe with this season has always been the location of the tribe camps, which were basically mud pits.Dalton Ross, EW.com, 12 Dec. 2024
-
The animal was about a foot long and used its head, rather than its arms, to dig into the mud.Eli Wizevich, Smithsonian Magazine, 11 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near humus
Cite this Entry
“Humus.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/humus. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share