overdry

1 of 2

adjective

over·​dry ˌō-vər-ˈdrī How to pronounce overdry (audio)
: too dry
cracked, overdry lumber
overdry skin

overdry

2 of 2

verb

overdried; overdrying

transitive + intransitive

: to make (something) too dry
a facial cleanser that won't overdry your skin
To maximize volume while styling, scrunch hair with hands while blow-drying on medium heat (overdrying makes hair limp).Jennifer Rapaport

Examples of overdry in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
Don’t overdry the affected area. Sarah Wu, Glamour, 8 Sep. 2020 Oily or acne-prone skin: For oily skin, it’s recommended to use a body wash that contains a decongestant like salicylic acid or tea tree oil, but Dr. Illyas is quick to explain that these ingredients may overdry the skin if used too often. Nikhita Mahtani, SELF, 14 June 2022

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'overdry.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1621, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of overdry was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near overdry

Cite this Entry

“Overdry.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/overdry. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

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