1
as in shaggy
covered with or as if with hair
that gray, cottony spot on the bread is mold
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in silky
smooth or delicate in appearance or feel
fluffy, cottony hair
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of cottony
Those without leaves store water in their stems.) Check the plants for disease and infestations, including mealy bugs, which look like a cottony, white substance, and powdery mildew, which initially appears as white circles on leaves and stems.
—
The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 May 2025
These small insects have a waxy, white, cottony appearance and can usually be found in clusters on the underside of leaves and in stem joints.
—Sheryl Geerts, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 May 2025
An egg mass of the citrus mealybug looks like a small, white, cottony mass on the underside of a leaf.
—Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 Aug. 2024
There, the thickly forested ranges perched on a shelf of cottony clouds, offering a view of the mountaintop complex modeled after 16th century Vietnamese pagodas, including a 10-story belfry, a network of stone staircases and a giant seated Buddha.
—Patrick Scott, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2023
Ladybugs have also been introduced to the Galapagos to reduce cottony cushion scale and have been beneficial there as well.
—Susan Pransky, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Oct. 2023
Come springtime, a perimeter of blossoming dogwoods will enfold the clearing in a cottony veil.
—Curbed, 13 Nov. 2022
Buy medium eggplant that is not cottony or bruised.
—The View, ABC News, 14 Jan. 2022
Mealy bugs are distinguished by the white wax covering their body and egg sacs that give them a cottony appearance.
—oregonlive, 11 Nov. 2019
The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 May 2025
These small insects have a waxy, white, cottony appearance and can usually be found in clusters on the underside of leaves and in stem joints.
—Sheryl Geerts, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 May 2025
An egg mass of the citrus mealybug looks like a small, white, cottony mass on the underside of a leaf.
—Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 Aug. 2024
There, the thickly forested ranges perched on a shelf of cottony clouds, offering a view of the mountaintop complex modeled after 16th century Vietnamese pagodas, including a 10-story belfry, a network of stone staircases and a giant seated Buddha.
—Patrick Scott, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2023
Ladybugs have also been introduced to the Galapagos to reduce cottony cushion scale and have been beneficial there as well.
—Susan Pransky, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Oct. 2023
Come springtime, a perimeter of blossoming dogwoods will enfold the clearing in a cottony veil.
—Curbed, 13 Nov. 2022
Buy medium eggplant that is not cottony or bruised.
—The View, ABC News, 14 Jan. 2022
Mealy bugs are distinguished by the white wax covering their body and egg sacs that give them a cottony appearance.
—oregonlive, 11 Nov. 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cottony
Adjective
-
The goldendoodle named Bruno is crossbreed of a golden retriever and a poodle, and is known to have unique fur—loose curls and sometimes shaggy.—
Liz O'Connell,
MSNBC Newsweek,
2 June 2025
-
The bison’s large, hump-like shoulder, shaggy fur, and thick mane distinguish it from the smoother-coated buffalo.—
Scott Travers,
Forbes.com,
25 May 2025
Adjective
-
With this release, Master Blender Rachel Barrie closes the Malting Season series by capturing the silky texture and nuanced sweetness that only traditional methods and patient maturation can produce.—
Paul Caputo,
Forbes.com,
31 May 2025
-
The silky sauce also coats the meatballs well and makes a great topping for egg noodles or rice.—
Jasmine Smith,
Southern Living,
30 May 2025
Adjective
-
Several things may cause dark black spots on the tongue, including a benign condition called hairy tongue, some medications, and some health conditions.—
Wendy Wisner,
Health,
8 June 2025
-
Enjoy some hairy onboard footage as this alien spaceship of a sailboat records the second-fastest speed in history.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
4 June 2025
Adjective
-
Pop a satin version on top of your usual night-out curls to make the 'do feel glamorous.—
Jasmine Washington,
Seventeen,
18 Jan. 2023
-
From satin pillowcases to a hydrating moisturizer, all of these products are on sale for less than $25.—
Isabel Garcia,
Peoplemag,
13 Jan. 2023
Adjective
-
In language the rest of us can understand that means a slightly softer and more mellow click that’s quieter and less harsh than teh average mechanical keyboard.—
Mark Sparrow,
Forbes.com,
14 June 2025
-
In the play’s most beautiful moments, Smart recites Izzy’s poems in a sweet-bourbon croon—wafting, careful, soft.—
Helen Shaw,
New Yorker,
13 June 2025
Adjective
-
Plants produce a basal rosette of downy foliage in their first year and flower in the second season, after which the plants typically die out.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
29 Mar. 2025
-
Reviled as rats with wings or, by a slimmer margin, beloved as downy, dirty urban icons, pigeons seem as much a part of New York as its skyline.—
Sarah Maslin Nir,
New York Times,
3 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Cottony.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cottony. Accessed 17 Jun. 2025.
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