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Recent Examples of defoliate
In addition to being unsightly, the caterpillars can partially defoliate and weaken the plants.
—
Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 12 June 2025
Plants can defoliate all their leaves before any sign of the disease is obvious.
—Rita Perwich, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 June 2025
Thielen noted that the three St. Louis County wildfires were zero percent contained as of early Tuesday afternoon, and that the dry and windy conditions Tuesday and Wednesday are conducive to wildfire spread in an area heavily defoliated by the spruce budworm.
—Katie Rohman, Twin Cities, 13 May 2025
This bright red insect can severely defoliate these lilies.
—Pamm Cooper, Hartford Courant, 10 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for defoliate
Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 12 June 2025
Plants can defoliate all their leaves before any sign of the disease is obvious.
—Rita Perwich, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 June 2025
Thielen noted that the three St. Louis County wildfires were zero percent contained as of early Tuesday afternoon, and that the dry and windy conditions Tuesday and Wednesday are conducive to wildfire spread in an area heavily defoliated by the spruce budworm.
—Katie Rohman, Twin Cities, 13 May 2025
This bright red insect can severely defoliate these lilies.
—Pamm Cooper, Hartford Courant, 10 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for defoliate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defoliate
Verb
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In tight spaces where a straight driver can't complete a full rotation, that elbow geometry is the difference between finishing the job and abandoning it after hurting your wrist, skinning your knuckles, and questioning your life choices.—
Omar Kardoudi
March 05,
New Atlas,
5 Mar. 2026
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Mom skinned it, went to the pound to find a slightly smaller dog, and stitched the old dog’s skin over the new dog.—
Andrew Norman Wilson,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The 16-month-old kangaroo named Chesney had escaped from an outside enclosure in Necedah on March 25, after being frightened by some unknown barking dogs.—
Hannah Kirby,
jsonline.com,
28 Mar. 2026
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In the past few years, Underwood has come to realize that a bunch of barking alphas may not, in fact, be the best way to build a successful pack.—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The corn is dried, hulled, and ground to create the coarse meal known as grits.—
Lisa Cericola,
Southern Living,
10 Mar. 2026
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Pine nuts can swap out for slivered or sliced almonds, or sunflower or hulled pumpkin seeds (pepitas).—
The Washington Post,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
25 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Just husk the corn, remove the silk and grill those cobs naked so they’re lightly charred, sweet, slightly crisp with a roasty popcorn taste.—
Beth Dooley,
Boston Herald,
20 Aug. 2025
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Examples include chopping bee, husking bee, logging bee, quilting bee, house- or barn-raising bee, sewing bee, spinning be, and, ultimately, spelling bee.—
Richard Lederer,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 June 2025
Verb
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The apostle was believed to have met his martyrdom by being flayed alive.—
Virginia Raguin,
The Conversation,
19 Feb. 2026
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And So It Is reaches out: affective, intimate, and flayed open with a beating heart.—
Linnie Greene,
Pitchfork,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
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From a narrowly military-strategic perspective, China will benefit from the fact that more U.S. forces may shift from the Asia-Pacific into the Middle East, and U.S. military munitions stocks are likely to be further denuded.—
Lyle Goldstein,
Chicago Tribune,
17 Mar. 2026
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Although gulf fritillaries can denude passion vines of all foliage, the leaves quickly grow back, and fruit development is not affected.—
Joshua Siskin,
Oc Register,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Investigators identified Armstrong as a suspect after surveillance footage placed her vehicle near the scene shortly before the shooting, and forensic evidence linked a gun registered to her to shell casings found there.—
Katey Psencik,
Austin American Statesman,
23 Mar. 2026
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The suspects allegedly used fake identities and shell accounts to funnel the proceeds, which were wired to accounts under their control.—
Michael Dorgan,
FOXNews.com,
21 Mar. 2026
Verb
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But a bill that made it through the North Carolina General Assembly last year amended state law to strip counties of their ability to regulate private pool rentals.—
Mary Ramsey
March 25,
Charlotte Observer,
25 Mar. 2026
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While waiting for medical personnel to arrive, do anything possible to cool them down—move them to the shade, strip their clothes, and douse them with cold water.—
Brad Stulberg,
Outside,
25 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Defoliate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defoliate. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.
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