gravel 1 of 3

adjective

Definition of gravelnext
as in hoarse
harsh and dry in sound after his bout with laryngitis, he had a terribly gravel voice

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

gravel

2 of 3

verb

as in to baffle
to throw into a state of mental uncertainty managed to gravel his opponent in the debate by focusing on atypical examples

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

gravel

3 of 3

noun

as in sand

Related 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 gravel
Adjective
The first part of the road, which is paved, is maintained by the state; the rest is gravel and stretches across Seymour's property and those of other neighbors. — Dana Hedgpeth The Washington Post, Arkansas Online, 24 May 2026 Starting on Burlington’s waterfront, this 13-mile route traces the shoreline before funneling riders onto the Colchester Causeway, a narrow, gravel path that stretches across Lake Champlain. — Erin Gifford, Outside, 30 Oct. 2025
Noun
So the stage floor is covered with what looks like loose gravel but is actually EPDM synthetic rubber, not unlike what playgrounds use. — Jenelle Riley, Los Angeles Times, 6 Oct. 2026 The journey provided Interstate highway, mountain pavement, curves and elevation before progressing onto gravel, dirt and softer surfaces. — Denver Post, 2 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for gravel
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gravel
  1. hoarse
  2. baffle
  3. sand
  4. gruff
  5. puzzle
  6. soil
  7. husky
  8. confuse
Adjective
  • Now life was like that; some days fine and firm and full of whatever, while other days the hoarse bark of the neighbors’ dog or a friend’s grim diagnosis and her body succumbed to an emotional gravity that pulled her into a free fall.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 22 Sep. 2026
  • Singers didn’t want their voices to get hoarse over the long night or week.
    — Vinod Sreeharsha, Miami Herald, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of hoarse
Verb
  • But Danny Niemela, a contractor at ArDan Construction, says that the process baffles him.
    — Lee Wallender, The Spruce, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Beyond being frustrated with the secrecy, locals said they were baffled by the lack of specifics and clarity the stakeholders had about the project, per the records.
    — Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of baffle
Noun
  • On muddy gravel between the smokestacks and the water, a forklift held what looked like an enormous sack of sand.
    — Alec Luhn, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026
  • Without natural sand reaching the beaches, high tides and large surf have resulted in entire beaches being covered with water, cutting off access.
    — Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of sand
Adjective
  • Defying the old-school stereotype of the hard-nosed, gruff newspaper boss, Vaughn often mentored young reporters in a serious but friendly and encouraging manner.
    — Martin E. Comas, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Over three decades in stand-up comedy, Bill Burr has gained a reputation for saying, with gruff conviction and political fire, the thing on everyone’s mind.
    — Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of gruff
Verb
  • To read her book is to be reminded that childhood can be a puzzling passage for anyone, even in an ostensibly simpler time and place.
    — Danny Heitman, Christian Science Monitor, 15 Oct. 2026
  • That the Houthis are able to score hits from 500 miles away, despite the Saudi military spending tens of billions of dollars on multi-layered air defense systems, has puzzled experts.
    — Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of puzzle
Noun
  • Obviously, the network of partners and proxies did not deter an attack on Iranian soil.
    — Ali Vaez, Foreign Affairs, 15 Oct. 2026
  • The work raises new questions about soil, carbon, and even what counts as an individual organism.
    — Quanta Magazine, Quanta Magazine, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of soil
Adjective
  • Her husky voice made Pugh, as an up-and-comer, seem wise beyond her years in breakout roles as a Machiavellian teenage bride in Lady Macbeth and an actor turned spy in The Little Drummer Girl.
    — Hillary Busis, Vanity Fair, 25 Sep. 2026
  • Tyler, after a brief recovery period, returned to the recording studio with a huskier, edgier voice.
    — Alexandra Del Rosario, Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2026
Definition of husky
Verb
  • Bill Belichick has made a Hall of Fame career on confusing young quarterbacks.
    — Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 18 Oct. 2026
  • Splitter praises his movement on and off the ball, which seems to visibly confuse opposing defenses.
    — Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of confuse

Browse Nearby Words

graved
gravel
gravel-blind
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Gravel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gravel. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on gravel

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about gravel

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