Synonyms for trench

Most common

drain · ditch · moat · excavate · furrow

Synonyms by meaning

Verb

Noun

Definitions

1. v. 1

   To invade, especially with regard to the rights or the exclusive authority of another; to encroach.

2. n. 1

   A long, narrow ditch or hole in the ground; either manmade, or formed naturally through erosion or tectonic plate movement.

   The trenches for installing the underground cables were dug with a trencher.

Related words

Word family

trencher trenchant

Phrases

trench mouth trench mortar trench binoculars trench foot trench broom trench derby trench fever slit trench

Forms

Plural

trenches → deeps, troughs, fosses…

Past participle

trenched
e.g. trenched → entrenched, encroached, trespassed, invaded…

Example sentences

• drain Ziri listened to the toilet doing its drain cycle.
• ditch Tom took the bend too fast and landed in the ditch.
• moat The river outside of the castle is called a moat.
• furrow Make a furrow in the ground and sow the seeds.

Popularity over time

Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.

By length

4 letters

deep¹, dyke¹, moat¹, foss¹

5 letters

drain¹, ditch¹, fosse¹

6 letters

invade², gutter², trough¹, furrow²

7 letters

channel², intrude², impinge²

8 letters

trespass², infringe², excavate³, encroach², entrench²

The small number after each word is its number of syllables (invade² = 2 syllables).