arid

adjective

ar·id | \ ˈa-rəd

, ˈer-əd\

Definition of arid

1 : excessively dry specifically : having insufficient rainfall to support agriculture an arid region

2 : lacking in interest and life : jejune arid textbooks

Other Words from arid Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about arid

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Other Words from arid

aridity \ ə-ˈri-də-tē

, a- \ noun

aridness \ ˈa-rəd-nəs

, ˈer-əd- \ noun

Examples of arid in a Sentence

a dull and arid textbook an arid speech about duty and responsibility

Recent Examples on the Web

Attacks have moved from the arid north to more populated central Mali and the peacekeeping mission, established in 2013, has become the U.N.’s deadliest. — Edith M. Lederer, The Seattle Times, "Mali warns any cut in UN force will strengthen militants," 29 Mar. 2019 At least 16 indigenous languages are spoken by people in the state’s eight regions, which span from the Pacific coast through cloud forests to arid valleys and mountains. — Matthew Kronsberg, WSJ, "The Mexican City Every Food-Loving Traveler Should Visit Now," 11 Apr. 2019 California has an arid climate in the best of times. — The Editorial Board, WSJ, "Trump’s California Water Relief," 19 Oct. 2018 On a punishing two-day march through the arid Sahel, some pregnant women miscarried and other elderly people died. — Haruna Umar, The Seattle Times, "Islamic militants’ deadly resurgence threatens Nigeria polls," 12 Feb. 2019 Egyptian embalming is thought to have gotten its start in that Predynastic Period or even earlier, when people noticed that the arid heat of the sand tended to dry and preserve bodies buried in the desert. — Kiona N. Smith, Ars Technica, "Ancient Egyptians had been making mummies longer than anyone thought," 16 Aug. 2018 The conspicuous lack of other striped creatures in hot, arid environments. — Katherine J. Wu, Smithsonian, "Settling a Heated Debate—Do Zebra Stripes Keep These Animals Cool?," 10 July 2018 While frogs have been around for more than 200 million years, their fossil record is slim and usually skewed toward species from arid, seasonal environments, not tiny rain-forest dwellers, the statement said. — Allyson Chiu, Washington Post, "A surprise find: 99-million-year-old frog encased in amber," 15 June 2018 Verde Valley, Arizona Arizona might bring to mind cacti, tumbleweeds and sandstorms, but the elevation and arid climate of Arizona’s Verde Valley are surprisingly grape-friendly. — Todd Plummer, Vogue, "Beyond Napa: 7 Emerging American Wine Regions to Visit Now," 29 Aug. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'arid.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.