porous

adjective

po·rous | \ ˈpȯr-əs

Definition of porous

1a : possessing or full of pores

b : containing vessels hardwood is porous

2a : permeable to fluids

b : permeable to outside influences

3 : capable of being penetrated porous national boundaries

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

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Examples of porous in a Sentence

The country has a porous border. a cleaner that should not be used on porous surfaces

Recent Examples on the Web

Mexico’s 540-mile border with Guatemala is mostly porous, with rivers, mountains and vast tracts of forest. — Washington Post, "With border deployment, Mexico’s new national guard gets its first big mission," 11 June 2019 Pros: Low-maintenance, non-porous, repairable Cons: not heat-resistant, will show scratches Known widely under the brand name Formica, this affordable material was once ubiquitous in American homes. — Joe Lindsey, Popular Mechanics, "The Best Countertop Materials," 9 May 2019 What remains is exceptionally porous, riddled with tunnels and nooks that act like magnets to grab dirt, oil and toxins. — Laura Daily, The Seattle Times, "How charcoal escaped the grill and ended up in your bathroom," 12 Apr. 2019 That might rule out soft or porous materials that could show stains or knife marks. — Joe Lindsey, Popular Mechanics, "The Best Countertop Materials," 9 May 2019 This no-soak treatment also works well for turquoise and opals (which are also porous stones). — Lauren Smith, Good Housekeeping, "How to Clean Your Jewelry Like a Pro," 7 May 2019 If the strands stay open, your hair becomes porous and begins to look and feel damaged. — Elizabeth Denton, Allure, "Virtue's New Protein Powder Made My Damaged, Color-Treated Hair Look Like New," 19 Mar. 2019 These landowners are concerned with the safety of the project, which requires MVP to bore through fragile rock known as karst, which is very porous and can be unstable. — Kathryn Miles, Outside Online, "The Forest Service Is Arresting Protestors Along the AT," 25 Apr. 2018 Since 2005, prior to which the border had been porous, a total of 64,000 Africans had made it to Israel, although thousands have since left. — NBC News, "Israel strikes U.N. deal to send thousands of African migrants to Western countries," 2 Apr. 2018

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