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 Some with alcohol or actives can feel drying, and Buechner suggested pairing them with a leave-in conditioner. — Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 7 Oct. 2026 Its lightweight, fast-drying formula is infused with a nourishing lineup—squalane and macadamia and jojoba oils, to name a few—that leaves skin hydrated and streak-free from start to finish. — Madison San Miguel, Allure, 7 Oct. 2026 Alcohol also acts as a drying agent, which can cause or worsen xerostomia, better known as dry mouth. — Hanna Wickes, Sacbee.com, 5 Oct. 2026 The ribbed knit is absorbent and quick-drying with a combed cotton material that’s ultra-soft to the touch. — Caley Sturgill, Southern Living, 2 Oct. 2026 Cutting boards and drying racks vary by brand, so check what comes in the box and what fits later. — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Charlotte Observer, 1 Oct. 2026 Product marketing plays up the same idea, pitching double-bowl designs such as the 33-inch Ruvati workstation for multitaskers who want one spot for washing veggies and drying dishes. — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Kansas City Star, 1 Oct. 2026 Removing the thermal drying stage could also make electrode manufacturing less capital- and energy-intensive. — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 1 Oct. 2026 Moving clothes promptly to the drying rack gives them a better chance of drying fresh. — Caroline Lubinsky, Martha Stewart, 26 Sep. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for drying
  1. scorching
  2. fading
  3. parching
  4. withering
  5. dehydrating
  6. wilting
  7. draining
  8. desiccating
Verb
  • Check between presses to avoid overheating or scorching the fabric.
    — Alexandra Emanuelli, Southern Living, 26 Sep. 2026
  • When Cody Turcotte arrived to fight a wildfire scorching homes in Spokane, Washington, last month, there weren't enough people at the scene to control it.
    — Emily Mae Czachor, CBS News, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of scorching
Verb
  • New England beat Buffalo so the public isn't exactly fading the Patriots, but this still feels like a bit of a trap line to me.
    — Dan Zaksheske OutKick, FOXNews.com, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Efforts are underway to rekindle this fading heritage before their skills are lost.
    — Kelly Kasulis Cho, Christian Science Monitor, 8 Oct. 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
  • 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
  • His long, tousled hair, stubble, withering gaze, and ever-present cigarette gave him an air of punk-rock danger.
    — Robb Report, Robb Report, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of withering
Verb
  • Antihistamines have a general dehydrating effect that also reduces tear production.
    — Nancy LeBrun, Verywell Health, 24 Sep. 2026
  • In addition to air-frying, the Joule also has toasting, baking, broiling, roasting, proofing, reheating, slow cooking, warming and dehydrating functions, as well as settings for bagels, pizza and cookies.
    — BestReviews, Mercury News, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of dehydrating
Verb
  • 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
  • In the fall different flowers, the last of the season, will be finally wilting.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of wilting
Verb
  • Oak Lawn Mayor Terry Vorderer previously said investigating video gambling terminal thefts was draining village resources.
    — Olivia Stevens, Chicago Tribune, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Under President Joe Biden, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau ordered Tel*Link to pay $3 million for illegally freezing and draining funds from incarcerated people’s accounts.
    — Gaby Del Valle, The Verge, 8 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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Cite this Entry

“Drying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/drying. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.

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