herbaceous

adjective

her·​ba·​ceous ˌ(h)ər-ˈbā-shəs How to pronounce herbaceous (audio)
1
a
: of, relating to, or having the characteristics of an herb
b
of a stem : having little or no woody tissue and persisting usually for a single growing season
2
: having the texture, color, or appearance of a leaf

Examples of herbaceous in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
The bittersweet Italian liqueur Amaro Nonino provides herbaceous orange notes, and it’s given both brightness and a surprising amount of charm from a couple dashes of Peychaud’s Bitters. Jeremy Repanich, Robb Report, 14 Feb. 2026 The forests are marked by sparse conifer stands, woodlands, herbaceous vegetation, and unvegetated barrens that dominate the transition to Arctic tundra. Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 10 Feb. 2026 The savory girl favors briny, herbaceous, and umami-rich bites over sweet treats—think olives instead of cupcakes, flaky cheese twists over sugar cookies, and snack boards featuring marinated vegetables, nuts, and bold spreads. Cori Sears, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Feb. 2026 Monk fruit, known as Siraitia grosvenorii or luo han guo, is a herbaceous plant belonging to the Cucurbitaceae family of gourds. Angelica Bottaro, Verywell Health, 4 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for herbaceous

Word History

First Known Use

1640, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of herbaceous was in 1640

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Cite this Entry

“Herbaceous.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/herbaceous. Accessed 28 Feb. 2026.

Kids Definition

herbaceous

adjective
her·​ba·​ceous ˌ(h)ər-ˈbā-shəs How to pronounce herbaceous (audio)
1
: of, relating to, or resembling an herb
2
: being a stem with little or no woody tissue and lasting usually only for a single growing season
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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