DRYING Synonyms: 62 Similar and Opposite Words

drying

verb

present participle of dry

as in scorching

to make dry the wind quickly dried their clothes

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in fading

to lose liveliness, force, or freshness his creative talents were just drying on the vine in that small, provincial town

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 drying None of the kitchen handwash sinks had paper towels or a blower for drying hands. — David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 28 Oct. 2026 Our selections include gift ideas under $50, like quick-drying performance half-zips or customizable book weights from Quince and Leatherology. — ABC News, 28 Oct. 2026 Wash the towel in hot water and check the stain before drying. — Anyssa Roberts, The Spruce, 28 Oct. 2026 Bíró had recruited his brother, a dentist and chemist, to create a quick-drying, viscous ink that wouldn’t get stuck. — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 26 Oct. 2026 These ingredients can help counteract the drying effects of cleansing, leaving skin more comfortable rather than stripped. — Sheryl George, Allure, 26 Oct. 2026 Indigenous tribes adopted names including the drying rice moon, the falling leaves moon and the migrating moon. — Dharma Niles, CNN Money, 25 Oct. 2026 The ingredients read like a face serum with niacinamide, ceramides, peptides, and rosemary oil—and no sulfates, which can be really drying. — Reece Andavolgyi, InStyle, 25 Oct. 2026 In the millennia and centuries that followed, people developed and refined other traditional food processing methods, including grinding, baking, fermenting, drying and pressing. — Garrett M. Broad, The Conversation, 19 Oct. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for drying

Verb

Its advanced technology generates precise light pulses that cut through delicate materials such as computer chips and human tissue without scorching surrounding tissue.

— Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 20 Oct. 2026
Tina Snow thrives in the winter, but Megan Thee Stallion is scorching in October.

— Michael Saponara, Billboard, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of scorching

Verb

Fighting autocracy and inequality The Ford Foundation frames its new plan as its answer to rising autocracy, widening inequality, and fading public trust.

— Sydney Lake, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2026
In Brazil, Lula also faces fading support even among parts of his base as the economic backdrop looks different from the one that accompanied his first presidency.

— Alessandra Freitas, CNN Money, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of fading

Verb

So, for ease of use and to avoid parching your skin, Queen recommends looking for one product — typically a lotion or cream — that delivers both retinol and hydrating ingredients, like glycerin, hyaluronic, ceramides or shea butter.

— Maggie Ryan, Flow Space, 26 Oct. 2026
Many of them, like Tubbs, were refugee Midwesterners, sick of parching droughts and devouring plagues of locusts, the insects descending in buzzing clouds thick enough to blacken the noonday sun.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 10 July 2026

Definition of parching

Verb

Canada doubled down on its historic 24-21 win in Toronto last week with sustained defensive pressure and a withering three-try burst in nine minutes around the hour mark.

— ABC News, ABC News, 24 Oct. 2026
His astute stand-up and withering, spot-on insights into race, relationships and celebrity have influenced countless comedians and writers.

— Kevin Dolak, HollywoodReporter, 10 Oct. 2026

Definition of withering

Verb

And none of the many alternative remedies for treating lice – such as smothering them with mayonnaise or oil, dehydrating them with saline or hot air, or zapping them with an electronic comb – have proven to be effective.

— Emily J. C. Wong, The Conversation, 14 Oct. 2026
Antihistamines have a general dehydrating effect that also reduces tear production.

— Nancy LeBrun, Verywell Health, 24 Sep. 2026

Definition of dehydrating

Verb

There are years of desire, wilting in silence, or the frenzied rhythm of regret.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 21 Oct. 2026
Against a backdrop of wilting flowers that left a subtle funk in the air, designer Glenn Martens once again put forth ideas that challenged conventions of beautiful clothing.

— Leah Dolan, CNN Money, 30 Sep. 2026

Definition of wilting

Verb

That means removing plants, mud and debris from boats, trailers and equipment; draining water from compartments; and allowing equipment to dry completely.

— Daniel Hunt, Sacbee.com, 23 Oct. 2026
Secretly draining shared savings or hiding major debt are obvious betrayals.

— Jenna Ryu, Washington Post, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of draining

Verb

In the Rocky Mountains, years of extreme heat and drought have baked the landscape, drying up streams that feed the Colorado River and desiccating pastures where cattle graze.

— Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 5 Sep. 2026
Suddenly, pest populations are large enough to make a meaningful impact, and one too many afternoons of 100+ degree weather have begun desiccating leaves.

— Anthony Reardon, Kansas City Star, 2 Aug. 2026

Definition of desiccating

Browse Nearby Words

dry-cleans

drying

drying up

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Style

“Drying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/drying. Accessed 31 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of drying

verb

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