1
as in shaggy
covered with or as if with hair
that gray, cottony spot on the bread is mold
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in silky
smooth or delicate in appearance or feel
fluffy, cottony hair
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of cottony
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 white, cottony look is due to a waxy coating that conceals the insects and their egg masses.
—Tom MacCubbin, orlandosentinel.com, 29 June 2019
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 white, cottony look is due to a waxy coating that conceals the insects and their egg masses.
—Tom MacCubbin, orlandosentinel.com, 29 June 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cottony
Adjective
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Getty Images Jenner's look, on the other hand, was quite a departure from her usual sleek yet shaggy pixie.—
Marci Robin,
Allure,
13 May 2025
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These were big, shaggy beasts belonging to a Toda tribe.—
Cyril E. Holland,
Outdoor Life,
8 May 2025
Adjective
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The pedals are made from a silky polyurethane material, while the stems feature a metal wire base that is wrapped in plastic.—
Alicia Geigel,
Southern Living,
9 May 2025
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The palate is silky smooth yet robust, showcasing flavors of brown sugar, dark stone fruit, cinnamon bark, and sweet tobacco.—
Joseph V Micallef,
Forbes.com,
8 May 2025
Adjective
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From 1930s Chitlin’ Circuit reds (in honor of Beyoncé, of course) to snatched ponytails and even hairy shorts, this week’s beauty moments were full of historic references and reinvention.—
India Espy-Jones,
Essence,
5 May 2025
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Vel and Cinta give the group strict instructions to leave their weapons at home, but one rebel’s hidden blaster goes off during a hairy moment, killing Cinta.—
Noel Murray,
New York Times,
30 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Pop a satin version on top of your usual night-out curls to make the 'do feel glamorous.—
Jasmine Washington,
Seventeen,
18 Jan. 2023
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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
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Some risk factors for babies include sleeping on their side or stomach, sharing a bed with a parent or caregiver, using soft bedding or bumper pads and sleeping on an incline.—
Adrianna Rodriguez,
USA Today,
10 May 2025
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The all-in-one outfit, which comes in 17 colors, is made out of a soft material that has a bit of stretch.—
Isabel Garcia,
People.com,
9 May 2025
Adjective
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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
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Nests can take up to three months to build, and typically contain sticks, grass, moss, cornstalks, lichen, fine woody material, downy feathers and sometimes greenery.—
Charna Flam,
People.com,
1 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Cottony.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cottony. Accessed 22 May. 2025.
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