as in to undermine
to deprive of emotional or intellectual vitality
by the time of the fourth rewrite, the screenplay had pretty much been gelded of all originality
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of geld
Because Moscow retains a close partner in this effort to geld Ukraine—a vassal state that presents the model for what Putin would like to accomplish in Ukraine: Belarus.
—
Casey Michel, The New Republic, 1 Mar. 2022
Yet on May 8, 1920 — 100 years ago Friday — Man o’ War was conspicuously absent from Churchill Downs, neither entered nor even nominated for the 46th Derby won by the gelding Paul Jones.
—Tim Sullivan, The Courier-Journal, 7 May 2020
Following the bad start, the gelding angled in for clearance and finished fairly well far back while guzzled nearing the wire.
—Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2020
Fuchs, riding the experienced gelding Clooney 51, and Maher with Explosion W, produced four flawless rounds over two days to win the final event of the regular season.
—Danielle Rossingh, CNN, 29 Sep. 2019
See All Example Sentences for geld
Casey Michel, The New Republic, 1 Mar. 2022
Yet on May 8, 1920 — 100 years ago Friday — Man o’ War was conspicuously absent from Churchill Downs, neither entered nor even nominated for the 46th Derby won by the gelding Paul Jones.
—Tim Sullivan, The Courier-Journal, 7 May 2020
Following the bad start, the gelding angled in for clearance and finished fairly well far back while guzzled nearing the wire.
—Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2020
Fuchs, riding the experienced gelding Clooney 51, and Maher with Explosion W, produced four flawless rounds over two days to win the final event of the regular season.
—Danielle Rossingh, CNN, 29 Sep. 2019
See All Example Sentences for geld
Recent Examples of Synonyms for geld
Verb
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The video evidence also appears to undermine elements of the government’s narrative of what happened.—
Allison Gordon,
CNN Money,
10 Jan. 2026
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Environmental and labor leaders say the pause is costing thousands of jobs and undermining energy independence.—
Carolyn Gusoff,
CBS News,
10 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Set in the Italian opera world of the 1700s, Rice’s novel tells the not-for-the-squeamish story of two male soprano singers who were castrated as boys in order to maintain their high voices.—
David Browne,
Rolling Stone,
12 Nov. 2025
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The book follows two men pursuing opera in 18th-century Italy — one, named Guido, is castrated to preserve his soprano singing voice, and the other, Tonio, is castrated by his brother Carlo in an attempt to control their family line.—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
12 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Evergreen branches bent under the weight of snow are already weakened; sweeping down the length of the branch toward the ground adds to the stress and increases the potential for breakage.—
Megan Hughes,
Better Homes & Gardens,
10 Jan. 2026
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These policies impose devastating costs on American citizens, weakening our economy, increasing the national debt, straining public budgets and tearing families apart.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
10 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Check Drainage and Irrigate Poorly draining soil causes root rot and plant failure.—
Barbara Gillette,
The Spruce,
15 Jan. 2026
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That organization often charges more for its services than county public guardians, which along with fees billed by lawyers working on the cases can quickly drain a person’s savings, the Tribune found.—
Christy Gutowski,
Chicago Tribune,
15 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Others were exhausted from hearing about some of the wealthiest people on the planet barely holding it together.—
Victor Tangermann,
Futurism,
15 Jan. 2026
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But the Beige Book suggested that time may now be nigh, with businesses having exhausted their pre-tariff stockpiles and now have a need to pass the cost increases to consumers.—
Eleanor Pringle,
Fortune,
15 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Meyer, meanwhile, wore a white graphic tee with black mini shorts and a Thom Browne top coat, W reported.—
Ingrid Vasquez,
PEOPLE,
10 Jan. 2026
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He was last seen wearing a red and black plaid shirt, dark jeans and brown steel-toe boots, police said.—
Meredith Deliso,
ABC News,
10 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The former slingshots between harmony and hysteria; the latter petrifies its beauty under a haze of ashy gray powder.—
Jazz Monroe,
Pitchfork,
28 Nov. 2025
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You'll be petrified by the violence inflicted upon boys who only wanted a chance to pull their families out of financial duress and have an opportunity at a comfortable life afforded to most of us sitting in our seats.—
Haadiza Ogwude,
The Enquirer,
13 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Geld.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/geld. Accessed 19 Jan. 2026.
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