moldier; moldiest
1
: of, resembling, or covered with mold
2
a
: being old and moldering : crumbling
b
: antiquated, fusty
moldy tradition
moldiness noun

Example Sentences

Her books became moldy after being left in a damp basement. The wine had a slightly moldy aroma.
Recent Examples on the Web This can happen if moldy or rotted grapes make it through the sorting line, or if grapes come in contact with dirty surfaces during winemaking. Mike Desimone And Jeff Jenssen, Robb Report, 21 Feb. 2023 The food should be stored in a cool, dry location to keep the seeds from getting moldy. Chris Mckeown, The Enquirer, 18 Feb. 2023 In the specific area where the monkeys were found, police said there were bird feces and feathers, along with wet, moldy pieces of clothing. Dallas News, 6 Feb. 2023 The roomy, malleable plastic laundry basket also has built-in comfort handles and plenty of vents to prevent damp clothes from getting moldy. Kathleen Willcox, Popular Mechanics, 27 July 2022 Overnight the figs got moldy and look like little brains— or Ids without structure—that say something dark about our species not really laying down a garden but living out the violent myths. Henri Cole, The New Yorker, 13 June 2022 Put the plant in the shower and thoroughly wash off the leaves, paying special attention to any areas that appear black or moldy. oregonlive, 5 Feb. 2023 Once moisture gets through, the gypsum powder gets gummy and moldy and cannot be dried out. Jeanne Huber, Washington Post, 6 Jan. 2023 At a three-month follow-up, her moldy mitt had cleared up. Beth Mole, Ars Technica, 20 Oct. 2022 See More

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

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of moldy was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near moldy

Cite this Entry

“Moldy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/moldy. Accessed 21 Mar. 2023.

Kids Definition

moldy

adjective
moldier; moldiest
: resembling, containing, or covered with mold
moldiness noun

Medical Definition

moldy

adjective
variants or chiefly British mouldy
moldier or chiefly British mouldier; mouldiest
: covered with a mold-producing fungus
moldy bread

More from Merriam-Webster on moldy

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