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
Ashes to ashes, dust to dust, and all that humus rot.
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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
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The soils consist of clay, limestone, and gravel loams.Joseph V Micallef, Forbes, 17 Sep. 2024
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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
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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
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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
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The type of soil—sandy, clay, peat, silt, loamy, or chalky or a mixture–will influence if the nutrients stay in the soil or go past the root line.Lauren David, Southern Living, 3 Jan. 2025
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Powered by pink clay and charcoal, Amika Reset Pink Charcoal Scalp Cleansing Oil gently absorbs impurities while soothing with a refreshing menthol tingle that takes wash day to luxurious new heights.Erin Parker, Allure, 3 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Split open at the seam and tender female feet urged in to keep the damp and mud at bay; slippers of a sort.Max Ufberg, hazlitt.net, 10 Jan. 2025
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From clothing to fingernails, everything is soot and mud and ash and blood.Erik Kain, Forbes, 10 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near humus
Cite this Entry
“Humus.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/humus. Accessed 17 Jan. 2025.
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