1
as in scorching
to make dry
the wind quickly dried their clothes
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
Allow for proper air circulation during the drying process, and consider opting for fast-drying items that retain less moisture.
—
Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 Mar. 2026
Choosing the right drying method (line drying or machine drying) - Line drying or air drying is the best option for preserving the life of your sheets and reducing energy use, according to Stein.
—Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 3 Mar. 2026
The kitchen equipment, meanwhile, is located fore of the entry on a dual-slide setup with the larger unit housing the versatile dual-burner stove/griddle, sink, small drying rack/secondary worktop, and loads of storage for dishes, cooking tools and utensils.
—New Atlas, 2 Mar. 2026
From relaxed-fit cargo pants with zippered thigh pockets to ultralight, quick-drying softshell pants with a DWR (durable water-repellent) coating, our lineup of the best hiking pants balances true functionality and style.
—Jessica Chapel, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Mar. 2026
Plus, the balm-like texture is dewy and non-drying.
—Grace McCarty, Glamour, 1 Mar. 2026
Vouchers will be exchangeable for a laundry card preloaded with $8 in credit, which will cover two wash cycles at any temperature and three 10-minute drying cycles.
—Victoria Le, Oc Register, 24 Feb. 2026
Put the drying rack in the bathroom.
—Emily Benda Gaylord, The Spruce, 23 Feb. 2026
Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 Mar. 2026
Choosing the right drying method (line drying or machine drying) - Line drying or air drying is the best option for preserving the life of your sheets and reducing energy use, according to Stein.
—Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 3 Mar. 2026
The kitchen equipment, meanwhile, is located fore of the entry on a dual-slide setup with the larger unit housing the versatile dual-burner stove/griddle, sink, small drying rack/secondary worktop, and loads of storage for dishes, cooking tools and utensils.
—New Atlas, 2 Mar. 2026
From relaxed-fit cargo pants with zippered thigh pockets to ultralight, quick-drying softshell pants with a DWR (durable water-repellent) coating, our lineup of the best hiking pants balances true functionality and style.
—Jessica Chapel, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Mar. 2026
Plus, the balm-like texture is dewy and non-drying.
—Grace McCarty, Glamour, 1 Mar. 2026
Vouchers will be exchangeable for a laundry card preloaded with $8 in credit, which will cover two wash cycles at any temperature and three 10-minute drying cycles.
—Victoria Le, Oc Register, 24 Feb. 2026
Put the drying rack in the bathroom.
—Emily Benda Gaylord, The Spruce, 23 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for drying
Verb
-
In a region where weather swings from paralyzing ice storms to scorching summers, these elements carry weight.—
Mary Grace Granados
Special Contributor,
Dallas Morning News,
5 Mar. 2026
-
How to Cope When spending time outdoors in scorching weather, protect yourself by hydrating frequently, avoiding the hottest time of day, and seeking shade when possible.—
Becky Upham,
EverydayHealth.com,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The clubs, civic organizations and community events that once brought our forefathers together are largely fading away.—
Judith Martin,
Dallas Morning News,
10 Mar. 2026
-
Produced by Edko Films and directed by Jack Ng, the film is set in 2012 at a fading hostess nightclub in Tsim Sha Tsui East.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Businesses in border towns like Buffalo and Bellingham, Washington, are withering.—
Nathaniel Meyersohn,
CNN Money,
5 Mar. 2026
-
Cuba’s tourism industry is withering amid severe blackouts, dwindling oil reserves and heightened tensions with the United States.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
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
-
Wind is a familiar thing, a thing whose very existence brings a kind of reassurance—yearned-for when absent, delighting when gentle, accursed when either biting cold or parching hot, feared when violent.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
19 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Rotten flowers sit wilting in a vase, the fireplace is lit, and clothes are strewn around.—
Aramide Tinubu,
Variety,
18 Feb. 2026
-
And Margot Robbie gives the character a sharpness, an agency that’s a relief from the wilting Catherines of yore — which actually makes her ultimate gruesome fate feel that much more tragic.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Removing the sprouts, which draw away moisture, helps to prevent the potatoes from quickly dehydrating.—
Aly Walansky,
Southern Living,
7 Feb. 2026
-
Around his first birthday — when kids are most vulnerable — my son suffered the severe, dehydrating diarrhea that rotavirus causes.—
Ben Lopman,
STAT,
17 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
In full sun or partial shade and well-draining soil, creeping thyme puts on a show, with small flowers covering the ground like a colorful carpet.—
Jamie McIntosh,
The Spruce,
3 Mar. 2026
-
Provide well-draining soils as root rot can develop in wet soil.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
3 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Hot stones are added, one by one, as the air inside gets heavier, the heat searing the nose and the throat, the sweat starting in rivulets that turn into streams as the smell gets more intense, the heartbeat swells, the mind races.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
5 Mar. 2026
-
From searing and sautéing on the stove to popping them right in the oven for easy roasting, stainless steel pans are versatile and super durable, too.—
Daley Quinn,
Southern Living,
26 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Drying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/drying. Accessed 11 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
