Example Sentences
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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 journal indicates that Niko, Mann’s large, unruly poodle, barked as the intrepid teen-agers approached the front door.—
Alex Ross,
New Yorker,
14 Mar. 2026
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As Kansas coach Bill Self barked orders from the sideline inside T-Mobile Center, the tide was starting to turn.—
Shreyas Laddha,
Kansas City Star,
13 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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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
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ProPublica and High Country News observed overgrazing in multiple states, including streambeds trampled by cattle, grasslands denuded by grazing and creeks fouled by cow corpses.—
Mark Olalde,
ProPublica,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The six miles of beach are perfect for surfing, but also shelling and just plain sitting.—
Tara Massouleh McCay,
Southern Living,
12 Mar. 2026
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Dolan used those funds for a downpayment on a property in Haverhill, his mortgage, tuition, student loan payments, and transfers to shell companies among other things, the office said in a statement.—
Colleen Cronin,
Boston Herald,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The schoolchildren said they were sometimes ordered to strip to their underwear or be naked and told to squat with their arms extended, gripping heavy rocks.—
MARK BANCHEREAU THE ASSOCIATED PRESS,
Arkansas Online,
12 Mar. 2026
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But stripping out the geoeconomic nuance risks creating a false sense of security.—
Alaa Shahine Salha,
semafor.com,
11 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Defoliate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defoliate. Accessed 16 Mar. 2026.
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