troughs

noun

plural of trough
1
as in pipes
a long hollow cylinder for carrying a substance (as a liquid or gas) all of the wiring for the converted residential loft is concealed in a vertical trough

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in ditches
a long narrow channel dug in the earth I slid and fell into the trough by the side of the road, scraping my leg

Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in gutters
a pipe or channel for carrying off water from a roof the troughs on the eaves of the house were clogged with leaves

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 troughs This smear is described mathematically by a wave function which, like a classical wave, has peaks and troughs. — Elise Cutts, Quanta Magazine, 23 Sep. 2026 Trotter’s team had prepped the property with water troughs and alfalfa hay, which drew in the animals. — Ingfei Chen, New Yorker, 18 Sep. 2026 For water that cannot be emptied, such as horse troughs or ponds, consider adding mosquito dunks containing Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis, or Bti. — Rae Ford, Martha Stewart, 12 Sep. 2026 The strength of the polar vortex is vulnerable to the large ridges and troughs that form in lower levels of the atmosphere and influence how the jet stream moves. — Doyle Rice, USA Today, 15 Aug. 2026 Free mosquitofish are also available through the Butte County Mosquito and Vector Control District for ponds, troughs and other standing water that cannot be drained. — Jessie Baltaxe, CBS News, 13 Aug. 2026 Where the largest earners can afford to spend heavily year-on-year, the rest are beholden to peaks and troughs. — Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 12 Aug. 2026 This is because light waves in these sources stay synchronized with their peaks and troughs, making predictable patterns that were thought essential for photon entanglement. — Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 6 Aug. 2026 Peaks, troughs, breaks, beginnings, and endings shape the quality of decisions. — Gerald J. Leonard, Forbes.com, 15 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for troughs
  1. pipes
  2. ditches
  3. gutters
  4. conduits
  5. trenches
  6. tubes
  7. ravines
  8. channels
Noun
  • Think again of a gigantic system of pipes, each of which is open or closed with a certain probability.
    — Manon Bischoff, Scientific American, 30 Sep. 2026
  • Jacob Markstrom and Akira Schmid will now be between the pipes for Florida.
    — Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of pipes
Noun
  • Helen watched the ditches for pheasants but again there weren’t any.
    — Tom Drury, Harpers Magazine, 29 Sep. 2026
  • Homeowners may also be responsible for clearing leaves or keeping drainage ditches free of debris.
    — Jessica Safavimehr, Southern Living, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of ditches
Noun
  • Keep photos of the roof, gutters and attic from year to year, because that visual record is the fastest way to see change.
    — Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 1 Oct. 2026
  • Mosquitoes need only one tablespoon of water to breed, so areas like rain gutters, birdbaths or buckets with stagnant water are all possible breeding sites.
    — Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of gutters
Noun
  • Hailed as a bold experiment seven years ago, the Sanfic-Morbido Lab, part of Sanfic’s industry section Sanfic Industria, has evolved into one of the region’s most consistent conduits for fantastic/genre filmmaking.
    — Anna Marie de la Fuente, Variety, 1 Sep. 2026
  • However, developing specialized buoyant materials, underwater conduits, and anti-corrosive gear come with a premium price tag.
    — Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of conduits
Noun
  • There, trenches, benches, niches and other architectural devices are carved into the floor and walls—adding to the drama of the paintings covering the walls.
    — Jacqueline Ortoleva, Scientific American, 3 Oct. 2026
  • Marie Claire identifies high-collar outerwear as a defining trend of the season, spanning leather jackets, trenches, wool coats and sporty styles.
    — Lauren Schuster, Kansas City Star, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of trenches
Noun
  • In Castillo’s case, the six tubes were hidden in pockets that were sewn into his underwear, Homeland Security Investigations agents said.
    — David Goodhue October 7, Miami Herald, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Dyson later confirmed the failures traced to a manufacturing process issue affecting one batch of jet tubes, which created potential for water seepage, per Dentistry IQ.
    — Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of tubes
Noun
  • Many more were imperiled by muddy water racing through the narrow ravines, sparking frantic rescue missions for dozens.
    — Holly Yan, CNN Money, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Lake Overstreet has about five miles of multi-use trails through live oaks (a northern Florida staple), hills and ravines surrounding a secluded 144-acre lake.
    — Austin Perry OutKick, FOXNews.com, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of ravines
Noun
  • As part of his role, the executive will also oversee the CRM, digital channels and omnichannel strategies.
    — Martino Carrera, Footwear News, 5 Oct. 2026
  • Billboard plans to launch the film on its digital channels and Billboard TV (available on Amazon Fire and Samsung TV+) on Tuesday, October 27.
    — Matthew Carey, Deadline, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of channels

Browse Nearby Words

trough
troughs
trounce
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Cite this Entry

“Troughs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/troughs. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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