drying

verb

present participle of dry
1
as in scorching
to make dry the wind quickly dried their clothes

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
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 That means my greasy microfiber cloths do get washed with my cotton drying towels, along with oven mitts, linen napkins, and the seat pads for my counter stools (my kids somehow manage to trash them every week). — Emily Farris, Bon Appetit Magazine, 11 Aug. 2026 Set Sticky Traps If drying the soil and using apple cider vinegar don’t work, consider using sticky traps like BioCare Gnat Stix. — Leah Chester-Davis, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Aug. 2026 Some glues work differently on different types of plastics, while others vary in drying time or durability. — Bestreviews, Mercury News, 6 Aug. 2026 By sunset, piles of weeds sit drying along the banks of the spring while water moves freely downstream toward villages waiting for the paddy season ahead. — Umar Farooq, Christian Science Monitor, 6 Aug. 2026 Despite its size, the product still delivers the same powerful drying technology people have come to expect from Dyson. — Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Aug. 2026 No soap, paper towels or mechanical hand drying graced the kitchen handwash sink. — David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 4 Aug. 2026 John Gabrielli, Master HVAC Technician and owner of Air Temp Solutions, says that running cooking or drying appliances can easily raise room temperatures by 5 to 10 degrees. — Kamron Sanders, The Spruce, 3 Aug. 2026 In fairness, the El Niño drying Asia has historically brought wetter seasons to Argentina and southern Brazil, so much of the market's remaining relief now depends on rain falling on schedule over the Pampas. — Ingmar Rentzhog, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for drying
  1. scorching
  2. fading
  3. parching
  4. withering
  5. dehydrating
  6. wilting
  7. draining
  8. desiccating
Verb
  • The scorching temperatures and persistent droughts in June and July mutually reinforced each other to create a hot weather spiral, according to Samantha Burgess, strategic lead for climate at the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts.
    — Lex Harvey, CNN Money, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Offering optimal freedom of movement and endless styling, the Lomon Wide-leg Capri Pants instantly elevate any outfit while keeping you cool and comfortable on scorching travel days when any other bottoms start to cling.
    — Julia Morlino, Travel + Leisure, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of scorching
Verb
  • Clip the plant right below the fading flowers and just above where leaves are.
    — Mallory Carra, The Spruce, 14 Aug. 2026
  • The 20th century and its musicians keep fading away — but Rush came back.
    — Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of fading
Verb
  • 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
  • Alegria also sees wild rice production growing using the traditional Indigenous methods of drying, parching, dancing and winnowing at rice camps in northern Wisconsin.
    — Frank Vaisvilas, jsonline.com, 4 Dec. 2025
Definition of parching
Verb
  • Nathan Hochman has been the subject of withering criticism from Mayor Karen Bass, former cops and even some of his own prosecutors.
    — Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Atlanta City Council is directing city departments to beef up efforts to protect residents from the growing threat of extreme heat after the city recently faced withering critiques from homeless services groups for its response to a recent heatwave.
    — Drew Kann, AJC.com, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of withering
Verb
  • Diatomaceous earth is a natural, chemical-free way to control crawling pests by dehydrating them.
    — Abby Monteil, The Spruce, 1 Aug. 2026
  • Although caffeine has a mild diuretic effect, moderate amounts of caffeine generally isn’t dehydrating for most healthy adults.
    — Heather Jones, Verywell Health, 21 July 2026
Definition of dehydrating
Verb
  • To my horror, the blooms that were beautifully open two days before my party had actually started wilting and dropping petals by the time the day of the party arrived.
    — Mary Catherine McAnnally Scott, Southern Living, 23 July 2026
  • Alcaraz missed this year's French Open — and Wimbledon — with a wrist injury, and Sinner was eliminated in the second round in Paris after wilting in the heat.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 12 July 2026
Definition of wilting
Verb
  • To deodorize and tackle slow-draining sinks, sprinkle a bit of baking soda down the drain before pouring a generous amount of apple cider vinegar.
    — Nafeesah Allen, Better Homes & Gardens, 13 Aug. 2026
  • For best results, focus on giving your ficus well-draining soil and plenty of bright, partial light.
    — Abby Monteil, The Spruce, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of draining
Verb
  • 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
  • Improving safety in the field Key innovations for the new tissue include the ability to hold water at room temperature for months on end without desiccating or needing refridgeration.
    — Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 25 July 2026
Definition of desiccating

Browse Nearby Words

dry-cleans
drying
drying up
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Drying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/drying. Accessed 15 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of drying for Spanish Speakers

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