retardant
adjective
re·tar·dant
ri-ˈtär-dᵊnt 
: serving or tending to retard
a growth-retardant substance
retardant
noun
Examples of retardant in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Ground crews are focused on constructing fire lines to strengthen containment efforts, while air tankers continue dropping retardant ahead of the fire to slow its spread.
—
Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 20 May 2026
On top of a hill with a view of the canyon off Olinda Drive, about a dozen firefighters trained their eyes on the wildfire as helicopter after helicopter dropped water and large tanker planes made retardant drops.
—Sydney Barragan, Oc Register, 25 Apr. 2026
Crews are focusing on protecting homes and building fire lines, with help from heavy equipment like bulldozers and support from federal air tankers dropping water and fire retardant from above.
—Dan Raby, CBS News, 24 Apr. 2026
Crews began early Saturday dropping water and retardant all around the fire by air.
—ABC News, 4 Apr. 2026
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Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 20 May 2026
On top of a hill with a view of the canyon off Olinda Drive, about a dozen firefighters trained their eyes on the wildfire as helicopter after helicopter dropped water and large tanker planes made retardant drops.
—Sydney Barragan, Oc Register, 25 Apr. 2026
Crews are focusing on protecting homes and building fire lines, with help from heavy equipment like bulldozers and support from federal air tankers dropping water and fire retardant from above.
—Dan Raby, CBS News, 24 Apr. 2026
Crews began early Saturday dropping water and retardant all around the fire by air.
—ABC News, 4 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for retardant
Cite this Entry
“Retardant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/retardant. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
retardant
adjective
re·tar·dant
ri-ˈtärd-ᵊnt
: serving or tending to retard
flame-retardant fabrics
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