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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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So how did Council possibly talk Self into barking after the Jayhawks improved to 22-9 overall and 12-6 in Big 12 play?—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
8 Mar. 2026
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Four players were booked, a Charlotte FC goal was controversially disallowed and Estévez spent a solid portion of his evening barking at the fourth official.—
David Eckert,
Austin American Statesman,
7 Mar. 2026
Verb
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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
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This clever stem remover gadget makes hulling strawberries quick and clean.—
Nora Colomer
may earn a commission if you buy through our referral links. This content was created by a team that works independently from the Fox newsroom.,
FOXNews.com,
24 Oct. 2025
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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Lebanon's state-run National News Agency reported Israeli artillery shelling on several Lebanese villages along the border, including Aid al-Shaab and Beit Lif.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
5 Mar. 2026
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Blue Diamond opened the first portion of its almond-shelling plant in 1914.—
Sacbee.com,
Sacbee.com,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
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But imagine a good cheeseburger, stripped down to its essential elements in raw form.—
Jenn Harris,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Mar. 2026
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But this same power that can cut through soap scum can also strip the finish on your hardwoods and leave them cloudy and dull.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
4 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Defoliate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defoliate. Accessed 12 Mar. 2026.
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