decoct

verb

Definition of decoctnext
as in to reduce

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of decoct In herbal medicine, roots and harder plant material like seeds and bark are often decocted (cooked over low heat for a length of time) as a way of extracting their healing qualities. — Alaina Sullivan, Bon Appetit, 24 Jan. 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for decoct
  1. reduce
  2. purge
  3. flush
  4. purify
  5. refine
  6. clarify
  7. cleanse
  8. distill
Verb
  • For example, shifting the Fed’s portfolio toward short-term Treasury bills and away from long-term bonds or mortgage-back securities could reduce market price distortion and limit the government’s role in allocating capital across sectors.
    — David Zhang, Forbes.com, 3 Aug. 2026
  • And China, with its massive oil inventory, has been drawing down its reserves and reduced its crude imports by more than 4 million barrels a day, according to JPMorgan.
    — David Goldman, CNN Money, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of reduce
Verb
  • Even when Putin purged Russia’s defense ministry for corruption, including much of Shoigu’s own personal network, Putin transferred Shoigu to a weighty role in the Security Council rather than disempower him.
    — Julian G. Waller, Foreign Affairs, 7 Aug. 2026
  • For many, that pales in comparison to the 60 Minutes bloodbath in June that saw correspondents Scott Pelley, Sharyn Alfonsi and Cecilia Vega purged, joined by executive producer Tanya Simon and others.
    — Dominic Patten, Deadline, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of purge
Verb
  • Rinse the affected area with cold water to flush out as much of the dye as possible.
    — Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 2 Aug. 2026
  • Let the water flush through for a 30 to 45 seconds before shutting valves and reclosing lines.
    — Nan Sterman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of flush
Verb
  • This gas will then be purified and concentrated, ready for export to local gas networks as what is termed renewable natural gas (RNG).
    — Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 1 Aug. 2026
  • Normal strategy in disaster situations is boiling water to purify it but this uses valuable fuel resources.
    — Simon Heptinstall, New Atlas, 9 July 2026
Definition of purify
Verb
  • Growing knowledge around these and other factors would help refine masking recommendations from public health officials.
    — Deidre McPhillips, CNN Money, 4 Aug. 2026
  • Before becoming a central figure in the renaissance of the Toronto Blue Jays, Gausman bounced around, needing time to refine his craft and maximize the potential that the baseball industry saw from an early age.
    — Patrick Mooney, New York Times, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of refine
Verb
  • Details of the investigation remain sparse, and Belichick did little to clarify matters, appearing to sidestep questions about how Lombardi’s indefinite absence could affect the team.
    — Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 1 Aug. 2026
  • Russian Ambassador to Iraq Maxim Maksimov clarified that Iraq didn’t make any formal request for S-400s.
    — Paul Iddon, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of clarify
Verb
  • But if your goal is to thoroughly cleanse your skin, lukewarm water is usually the better choice.
    — Sherri Gordon, HEALTH, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Soak for 30 minutes to absorb the bath’s therapeutic benefits which include releasing tension, cleansing your skin, and relaxing your body.
    — Rana Good, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of cleanse
Verb
  • In this case, the whiskey was distilled from January to June of 2015, and aged for a full 11 years in new American oak barrels.
    — Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 7 Aug. 2026
  • By helping to distill available market research, teams can more quickly start creating their own unique ideas that build off of what's already available to them.
    — Niki Hall, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of distill

Browse Nearby Words

declivity
decoct
decocted
See all Nearby Words

Podcast

Theme music by Joshua Stamper ©2006 New Jerusalem Music/ASCAP

Cite this Entry

“Decoct.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/decoct. Accessed 10 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Aug. 7

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
fridge-magnet-letters
Drop a Letter Quiz August 2026 Drop a letter from a word to make a totally diffe...
See All