Moab

[ moh-ab ]

noun

1. an ancient kingdom E of the Dead Sea, in what is now Jordan.

Moab

/ ˈməʊæb /

noun

1. Old Testament an ancient kingdom east of the Dead Sea, in what is now the SW part of Jordan: flourished mainly from the 9th to the 6th centuries bc

Example Sentences

Boarding is available in nearby Moab if you’re interested in taking a trail adventure.

From Outside Online

If you strike out, however, there are plenty of other options scattered around the greater Moab area, including an endless parade of RV campgrounds stuffed with equally endless amenities.

From Outside Online

Moab is a fantastic base camp for enjoying all the region has to offer.

From Outside Online

In 1993, while squandering a perfectly good college degree, I washed up on the shores of the Colorado River in the sweltering hamlet of Moab, Utah, and found work as a river guide and dishwasher.

From Outside Online

In the days following the monolith’s discovery, thousands of people poured into Moab, a small town on the edge of the desert already buckling under the weight of tourism.

From Outside Online

Because in the night Ar of Moab is laid waste, it is silent: because the wall of Moab is destroyed in the night, it is silent.

From Project Gutenberg

For this shall the well appointed men of Moab howl, his soul shall howl to itself.

From Project Gutenberg

For the cry is gone round about the border of Moab: the howling thereof unto Gallim, and unto the well of Elim the cry thereof.

From Project Gutenberg

Therefore shall Moab howl to Moab, every one shall howl: to them that rejoice upon the brick walls, tell ye their stripes.

From Project Gutenberg

Wherefore my bowels shall sound like a harp for Moab, and my inward parts for the brick wall.

From Project Gutenberg

About This Word

What else does MOAB mean?

MOAB is an acronym referring to a large bomb in the U.S. military, the Massive Ordnance Air Blast or Mother of All Bombs.

Moab is also the name of a Biblical kingdom and a city in Utah.

Where does MOAB come from?

The kingdom of Moab—a name from Greek via Hebrew for “from the father”—is described in the Bible as what is present-day Jordan, bound by the Dead Sea on its west. According to the Bible, the Moabites often fought with the Israelites.

As an acronym, MOAB refers to a massive bomb developed by the U.S. military. The official name of this weapon is the GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast (MOAB). It was tested in 2003 but not put into service until 2017.

In a press release in 2017, the MOAB was described as “the most powerful non-nuclear weapon in America’s arsenal.” It’s probable that its nickname Mother of All Bombs came about while the military was developing the munition. The mother of all X is a construction used for hyperbole (e.g., I have the mother of all hangovers).

Now, MOAB is also pretty common in the gaming world too.

How is MOAB used in real life?

Moab, Utah is a popular destination for fans of national parks and the great outdoors. The stunning, otherworldly landscape of nearby Canyonlands and Arches National Parks attract hundreds of thousands of visitors every year. These eager tourists love to post their vacation pics on social media using the hashtag “#Moab.”

Made it through another day. Weather not so good but managed to see Monument Valley and parts of Canyonlands on our way to Moab. pic.twitter.com/wjx8tCTZ8K

— Lydia (@LlydiaHa) October 7, 2018

MOAB as an acronym is used by the military and those interested in weaponry.

MOAB has also entered the wider discourse to refer to a metaphorical bomb, such as releasing information about someone, particularly in a political context, (bombshell).

SON OF Abused Mom Drops MOAB Bomb on Dem Rep Keith Ellison: https://t.co/ETz4SB2lpl

— Truckingboards (@truckingboards) October 7, 2018

People may also use MOAB as a modifier (e.g. MOAB bomb).

More examples of MOAB:

“The MOAB is designed to destroy a lot of targets on the surface — unlike the Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP), the only US conventional bomb that’s larger than the MOAB (and one that has yet to be used in combat).”
—Zack Beauchamp, Vox, April, 2017

Note

This content is not meant to be a formal definition of this term. Rather, it is an informal summary that seeks to provide supplemental information and context important to know or keep in mind about the term’s history, meaning, and usage.