powdery

adjective

pow·​dery ˈpau̇-də-rē How to pronounce powdery (audio)
1
a
: resembling or consisting of powder
powdery snow
b
: easily reduced to powder : crumbling
2
: covered with or as if with powder

Examples of powdery in a Sentence

the beach's powdery white sand We skied down the powdery slopes.
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.
These tiny, winged insects have a delicate, powdery white appearance. Rita Pelczar, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 Dec. 2021 You're Exposed to Tear Gas Tear gas is a thick, powdery fog that sticks to moisture, like saliva, sweat, tears, and mucous membranes and causes an intense burning sensation. Louryn Strampe, Wired, 2 June 2020 Beaches in the coastal states are in the process of welcoming guests (slowly and distantly) back to their powdery, soft-sanded shores. Maya Kachroo-Levine, Travel + Leisure, 23 May 2020 Grand Haven State Park, Michigan Set on the shores of Lake Michigan, this 48-acre park with powdery white sand offers activities like fat-tire biking, barbecuing, sunbathing, swimming, and volleyball. Patricia Doherty, Travel + Leisure, 20 May 2020 See all Example Sentences for powdery 

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of powdery was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near powdery

Cite this Entry

“Powdery.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/powdery. Accessed 10 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

powdery

adjective
pow·​dery ˈpau̇d-ə-rē How to pronounce powdery (audio)
1
a
: resembling or consisting of powder
b
: easily made into a powder : crumbly
2
: covered with or as if with powder : dusty

More from Merriam-Webster on powdery

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