as in insult
an act or expression showing scorn and usually intended to hurt another's feelings
in her farewell speech, the departing governor got in some retaliatory girds at the media
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to wrap
to encircle or bind with or as if with a belt
for the celebration of the heroes' return, well-wishers girded hundreds of trees with yellow ribbons she girded her waist with a delicate sash
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to equip
to provide (someone) with what is needed for a task or activity
the Spartan warrior girded himself for battle with sword and shield
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to surround
to form a circle around
a tall hedge girds the exclusive estate and shields it from prying eyes
Synonyms & Similar 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 gird
Michael Luo, New Yorker, 28 Sep. 2025
Palestinian health authorities said further Israeli airstrikes and shelling across the Gaza Strip had killed at least 100 people on Tuesday, 35 of them in Gaza City in the enclave's north as Israeli forces girded for the offensive.
—Emily Rose, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2025
Chicago police Superintendent Larry Snelling rebuked a Northwest Side alderman who expressed skepticism this week about Chicago’s year-over-year crime declines as the city girds itself ahead of a possible deployment of National Guard troops.
—Sam Charles, Chicago Tribune, 29 Aug. 2025
There’s also a love triangle involving Bull, Honey, and a snooty Borzoi (Beck Bennett) which is meant to gird all of the self-conscious raunchiness with rom-com sweetness, and somehow makes the whole affair feel even more phony and half-baked.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 13 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for gird
Verb
Many who took the stage before and after her, however, spoke the language not of forgiveness but of girding for battle.
—Michael Luo, New Yorker, 28 Sep. 2025
Palestinian health authorities said further Israeli airstrikes and shelling across the Gaza Strip had killed at least 100 people on Tuesday, 35 of them in Gaza City in the enclave's north as Israeli forces girded for the offensive.
—Emily Rose, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2025
Chicago police Superintendent Larry Snelling rebuked a Northwest Side alderman who expressed skepticism this week about Chicago’s year-over-year crime declines as the city girds itself ahead of a possible deployment of National Guard troops.
—Sam Charles, Chicago Tribune, 29 Aug. 2025
There’s also a love triangle involving Bull, Honey, and a snooty Borzoi (Beck Bennett) which is meant to gird all of the self-conscious raunchiness with rom-com sweetness, and somehow makes the whole affair feel even more phony and half-baked.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 13 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for gird
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gird
Noun
-
The final insult from State Farm came just hours after Karen Powers died, early on the morning of August 2, 2023.—
J.C. Hallman,
Oklahoman,
10 Feb. 2026
-
In an appearance on Fox News, the Trump-supporting singer bashed the choice of Bunny, saying the performance was an insult to the MAGA movement.—
Brady Knox,
The Washington Examiner,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
According to BofA estimates, nearly a fifth of that action came via parlays—multi-leg sequences familiar to sportsbook customers but now wrapped in the language of derivatives and trading.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
10 Feb. 2026
-
The head straps are made of elastic and wrap around the back of your head instead of looping over your ears like most standard masks.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
It is equipped with an active cooling system between its leg joints, ensuring continuous high-intensity performance up to 4 hours with a solid-state lithium battery architecture.—
Atharva Gosavi,
Interesting Engineering,
10 Feb. 2026
-
The building is equipped for visitors in wheelchairs.—
Katie Parla,
Condé Nast Traveler,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The hanging quickly devolves into an all-out bacchanal, as onlookers drink, dance and kiss in the square surrounding the flailing corpse.—
Patrick Ryan,
USA Today,
13 Feb. 2026
-
With supply stretched, these resources become more precious, and more expensive, for other businesses in the areas surrounding data center construction, according to Fordham University economics professor Marc Conte.—
Sasha Rogelberg,
Fortune,
13 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Meanwhile, sitcoms like Friends marked a movement toward irony in comedy with its trademark tongue-in-cheek banter and sarcasm, Thompson explains.—
Liz Regalia,
Parents,
31 Jan. 2026
-
Eby quipped with her usual dry sarcasm.—
Zoey Lyttle,
PEOPLE,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Bonds are used to fund brick-and-mortar projects, which include constructing, equipping, maintaining and furnishing district facilities.—
Kendrick Calfee
February 11,
Kansas City Star,
11 Feb. 2026
-
Snyder-Hill has since furnished a second request for Wexner’s name removal, which includes thousands of pages of documents and articles.—
Daniel Libit,
Sportico.com,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
But Assad assured his aides that regime forces were coming from the south to encircle and defend the capital.—
Robert F. Worth,
The Atlantic,
6 Feb. 2026
-
Its head doesn’t resemble the shape of a skull, like most other humanoids, but instead a cylinder with a flat face encircled by a ring of light.—
Rachyl Jones,
semafor.com,
4 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Due to weather conditions, firefighters initiated a second alarm as mutual aid from the Southington and New Britain Fire Departments supplied station coverage, according to fire officials.—
Staff Report,
Hartford Courant,
7 Feb. 2026
-
The Factbook also supplied superlatives that trivia buffs could count on, issuing Daily Facts of historical and geographical significance.—
Bill Chappell,
NPR,
7 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Gird.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gird. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
