as in trenches
a long narrow channel dug in the earth
after skidding on the ice, our car went right into the ditch
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
1
as in dumps
to end a usually intimate relationship with
ditched his wife for a woman 30 years his junior
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in discards
to get rid of as useless or unwanted
we ditched the old table at the town dump
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 ditches
Southern California Weather Report, Oc Register, 29 Sep. 2025
During heavy rain, avoid parking or walking near culverts or drainage ditches, where swift-moving water can pose a serious risk.
—Bay Area Weather Report, Mercury News, 25 Sep. 2025
Most farm fields have open drainage ditches alongside them to capture runoff.
—Karl Schneider, IndyStar, 25 Sep. 2025
Cottonmouths can be found in aquatic and wetland areas like swamps, marshes, drainage ditches, ponds, lakes and streams.
—Craig Shoup, Nashville Tennessean, 18 Sep. 2025
Heavy rainfall will cause extensive and severe flash flooding of creeks, streams and ditches in the Tehama County Division of the Park Fire Burn Scar.
—Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 10 Sep. 2025
The district remains a throwback to the old days, much like the ancient thistle districts and thistle commissioners who were once found across Lake County in an attempt to stomp out the noxious weeds from farmlands and roadside ditches.
—Charles Selle, Chicago Tribune, 25 Aug. 2025
Clean streams were converted into muddy ditches.
—Charles Elliott, Outdoor Life, 21 Aug. 2025
Treat standing water in retention ponds or drainage ditches with a mosquito larvicide.
—Kristen Jordan Shamus, Freep.com, 19 Aug. 2025
Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 1 Oct. 2025
Dual Front mode Rainbow Six Siege ditches turn-taking to let players attack and defend simultaneously.
—Griff Griffin, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Sep. 2025
Its Foamy pad ditches the air in favor of all-foam construction.
—Wes Siler, Outside, 27 Aug. 2025
Continue reading … CATCHING HEAT – Cracker Barrel board member under fire for work background after restaurant ditches logo.
—FOXNews.com, 25 Aug. 2025
The third new classroom is the new art classroom and ditches the L to accommodate more specialized equipment including a kiln.
—Edward Keegan, Chicago Tribune, 24 Aug. 2025
But the focus makes Poilievre look too close to Trump and risks backfiring if Carney goes ahead and once again ditches a Justin Trudeau-era policy.
—David Moscrop, Time, 20 Aug. 2025
Noun
In heavy rain, refrain from parking or walking near culverts or drainage ditches, where swift-moving water can pose a grave danger.
—Southern California Weather Report, Oc Register, 29 Sep. 2025
During heavy rain, avoid parking or walking near culverts or drainage ditches, where swift-moving water can pose a serious risk.
—Bay Area Weather Report, Mercury News, 25 Sep. 2025
Most farm fields have open drainage ditches alongside them to capture runoff.
—Karl Schneider, IndyStar, 25 Sep. 2025
Cottonmouths can be found in aquatic and wetland areas like swamps, marshes, drainage ditches, ponds, lakes and streams.
—Craig Shoup, Nashville Tennessean, 18 Sep. 2025
Heavy rainfall will cause extensive and severe flash flooding of creeks, streams and ditches in the Tehama County Division of the Park Fire Burn Scar.
—Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 10 Sep. 2025
The district remains a throwback to the old days, much like the ancient thistle districts and thistle commissioners who were once found across Lake County in an attempt to stomp out the noxious weeds from farmlands and roadside ditches.
—Charles Selle, Chicago Tribune, 25 Aug. 2025
Clean streams were converted into muddy ditches.
—Charles Elliott, Outdoor Life, 21 Aug. 2025
Treat standing water in retention ponds or drainage ditches with a mosquito larvicide.
—Kristen Jordan Shamus, Freep.com, 19 Aug. 2025
Verb
Dion, with her blond bombshell waves, ditches her microphone for the glass potion bottle, holding it firmly to the sky.
—Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 1 Oct. 2025
Dual Front mode Rainbow Six Siege ditches turn-taking to let players attack and defend simultaneously.
—Griff Griffin, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Sep. 2025
Its Foamy pad ditches the air in favor of all-foam construction.
—Wes Siler, Outside, 27 Aug. 2025
Continue reading … CATCHING HEAT – Cracker Barrel board member under fire for work background after restaurant ditches logo.
—FOXNews.com, 25 Aug. 2025
The third new classroom is the new art classroom and ditches the L to accommodate more specialized equipment including a kiln.
—Edward Keegan, Chicago Tribune, 24 Aug. 2025
But the focus makes Poilievre look too close to Trump and risks backfiring if Carney goes ahead and once again ditches a Justin Trudeau-era policy.
—David Moscrop, Time, 20 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ditches
Noun
-
Ultimately, some in the Hollywood trenches see the reaction to Tilly as overblown.—
Tatiana Siegel,
Variety,
30 Sep. 2025
-
The resulting microplastics are so widespread, they’re found in places as remote as ocean trenches and as close as human breast milk.—
Matt Fuchs,
Time,
29 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
But then that tree dumps a huge load of leaves onto your property.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
30 Sep. 2025
-
Drescher played Fran Fine, a former bridal store worker in Flushing, Queens, who ends up working as a nanny for a rich Manhattan family after her boyfriend dumps her.—
Angela Andaloro,
PEOPLE,
30 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Non-reusable textiles (otherwise known as NRTs) are of particular interest, underscored by ACT UK’s report that the region discards 740,000 metric tons of NRT every year.—
Alexandra Harrell,
Sourcing Journal,
3 Oct. 2025
-
Marysol and Alexia take Julia, Lisa, and an unusually dour Adriana, who is moping about her birthday and how society discards women of a certain age.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
5 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Mosquitoes need water to breed, so limit standing water around your home by cleaning gutters and downspouts, removing leaves from low-lying areas and draining dishes under flower pots after rainstorms.—
Madeline Heim,
jsonline.com,
1 Oct. 2025
-
Zone 1 — which extends 30 feet from a building — requires property owners to do things such as clear dead plants, grass as well as leaves and pine needles from yards, roofs and gutters; trim overhanging branches; and keep a 10-foot gap between trees.—
Hannah Ruhoff,
Sacbee.com,
26 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The funding pause leaves many new homeowners in high-flood risk areas scrambling for protection and could halt the processing of current damage claims.—
Tamia Fowlkes,
jsonline.com,
6 Oct. 2025
-
That leaves Wednesday’s release of minutes from the Federal Reserve’s last policy meeting as the main economic report to watch in the coming week as the central bank is self-funded and unaffected by the shutdown.—
Danny Bakst,
Fortune,
6 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Cars pull into the courtyard; someone unloads a television from the back of one of them.—
Jack Lang,
New York Times,
19 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
The setting is breathtaking, with mountain ravines cascading away on either side.—
Barry Neild,
CNN Money,
23 Sep. 2025
-
The North course, par 71, 6,945 yards, challenges the most accomplished golfers with its ravines, wind and tricky greens, while the popular and more sedate and sheltered par-70, 6,580-yard South Course, with four ocean-side holes, invites and tests golfers of every level.—
Greg Mellen,
Oc Register,
19 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The deeper the water, the sooner a vehicle loses traction on the road.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
5 Oct. 2025
-
The deeper the water, the sooner a vehicle loses traction on the road.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
4 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ditches.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ditches. Accessed 7 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share