night soil

Definition of night soilnext

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 night soil This strategy became necessary after an errant tomato plant sprouted from a visitor's night soil back in the 1960s. Amy Brady, Scientific American, 17 Oct. 2023 The night soil temperatures are not ideal to put them out yet. oregonlive, 1 May 2021 For millennia, people collected these precious substances—often in the wee hours, giving rise to the term night soil—and used them to grow food. Julia Rosen, The Atlantic, 8 Feb. 2021
Recent Examples of Synonyms for night soil
Noun
  • Meanwhile, the unceasing churn of clothing, footwear and accessories depletes soils, poisons the water, pollutes the air, drives deforestation, accelerates biodiversity loss and generates runaway planet-warming emissions that undermine brands’ lofty environmental ambitions.
    Jasmin Malik Chua, Footwear News, 1 May 2026
  • Felton Road is located in the Bannockburn subregion of Central Otago and grows grapes in four vineyards planted on north-facing slopes comprised of glacial soils.
    Mike DeSimone, Robb Report, 1 May 2026
Noun
  • Meat doesn’t contain any fiber, an essential nutrient that keeps stool soft and feeds gut microorganisms.
    Kaitlin Sullivan, NBC news, 29 Apr. 2026
  • Infections can only be diagnosed with a laboratory test of a person’s stool, body tissue or fluids.
    Addy Bink, The Hill, 28 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • The primary sources of nitrates in groundwater are from livestock manure and other nitrogen-rich fertilizers placed on crops by farmers and ranchers, experts said.
    Sandee LaMotte, CNN Money, 23 Apr. 2026
  • Biochar is usually made from wood, but it can also be created by burning plant debris, livestock bedding, manure, and other natural items.
    Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • That means leave dog poop and kitty litter out.
    Jessica Damiano, Los Angeles Times, 30 Apr. 2026
  • Anacapa Island, for instance, has no services aside from some primitive campsites, a lighthouse and limited hiking options, but is also a major seabird rookery from April to August, which translates to lots of bird poop, noise, bird carcasses and territorial bird behavior.
    Tribune News Service, Baltimore Sun, 29 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • The other is the smell of excrement.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 24 Apr. 2026
  • And the valuable matter, in this case, the pure human feces and urine, had hardened over time, preserving the ancient excrement.
    Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 19 Apr. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Night soil.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/night%20soil. Accessed 3 May. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster