defoliate
verb
de·fo·li·ate
(ˌ)dē-ˈfō-lē-ˌāt 
defoliated; defoliating; defoliates
: to deprive of leaves especially prematurely
Black spot, which looks like its name, attacks leaves. Left untreated, it spreads and multiplies, and can defoliate the plant.—
Dave Dunn
Dave DunnJust two years after winds from Hurricane Iniki defoliated much of the island, towering eucalyptus and pine trees in this mountainside park are lush with new green leaves.—Jeff Phillips
Jeff PhillipsExamples of defoliate in a Sentence
a chemical used to defoliate trees
Insects are defoliating the trees.
Recent Examples on the Web
The leaves will be skeletonized or defoliated, or the needles of conifers will be chewed down to the branches.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 10 Sep. 2025
The caterpillars feed and defoliate boxwood plants.
—Chris McKeown, The Enquirer, 30 Aug. 2025
In 2021, the moths defoliated over nine million acres of forest across the country according to Purdue University.
—Sophie Hartley, IndyStar, 16 July 2025
Plants can defoliate all their leaves before any sign of the disease is obvious.
—Rita Perwich, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for defoliate
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Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 10 Sep. 2025
The caterpillars feed and defoliate boxwood plants.
—Chris McKeown, The Enquirer, 30 Aug. 2025
In 2021, the moths defoliated over nine million acres of forest across the country according to Purdue University.
—Sophie Hartley, IndyStar, 16 July 2025
Plants can defoliate all their leaves before any sign of the disease is obvious.
—Rita Perwich, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for defoliate
Cite this Entry
“Defoliate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/defoliate. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
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