girdles 1 of 2

noun

plural of girdle
as in belts
a strip of flexible material (as leather) worn around the waist drew a handkerchief from the girdle around her waist and offered it to the knight as a token of affection

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girdles

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of girdle
1
as in wraps
to encircle or bind with or as if with a belt trees girdled the campus, essentially hiding it from view wire girdling the bundle of firewood

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in circles
to travel completely around an asteroid belt that girdles the inner planets of the solar system

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3
as in surrounds
to form a circle around the rings that famously girdle the planet Saturn

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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 girdles
Noun
The trove of women’s bloomers, drawers, knickers, brassieres, corsets, and girdles is just a small part of the school’s historic clothing collection, with images shared by the University of Wyoming Libraries via JSTOR. — April White, JSTOR Daily, 2 Sep. 2026 Few actresses at the time said no to wearing girdles, says Haspiel. — Kc Baker, PEOPLE, 9 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for girdles
  1. belts
  2. wraps
  3. circles
  4. surrounds
  5. sashes
  6. orbits
  7. rings
  8. ribbons
Noun
  • Goodwill’s petite styling guidance recommends using belts to give oversized clothing more shape.
    — Ashley Lynch, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 Oct. 2026
  • In accessories, there’s a major focus on the waist, through belts and cummerbunds, while beading and fringe continue to enliven the novelty bag category.
    — Madeleine Schulz, Vogue, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of belts
Verb
  • The Aegean Dragon maki ($23), for example, combines shrimp tempura with criollo relish and harissa, while the Kataifi ($33) wraps tuna and melon in shredded pastry.
    — Phillip Valys, Sun Sentinel, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Nolan Interiors wraps individual cushions Over at Martha Stewart, Blythe Copeland recommended the Magic Sofa Covers from Nolan Interiors for households that want a cushion-by-cushion fit.
    — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of wraps
Verb
  • Cassiopeia circles Polaris as Earth rotates, so its orientation changes through the night.
    — Jamie Carter, Space.com, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Separately in the episode, River (Jack Lowden) and Sid (Olivia Cooke) are on the run from a pair of assassins, while the rest of the team circles the wagons en route to a safe house.
    — Lisa de los Reyes, HollywoodReporter, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of circles
Verb
  • Visceral fat — which lies deep within the abdomen and surrounds internal organs — has also been linked to a higher risk of cardiovascular disease, Cleveland Clinic states.
    — Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 17 Oct. 2026
  • Their most vulnerable conversation surrounds his recent MS diagnosis.
    — Emma Sharpe, Vulture, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of surrounds
Noun
  • Drafts, foggy glass, sticking sashes and rising energy bills can all signal that your windows need attention.
    — Samantha Agate, Miami Herald, 5 Oct. 2026
  • Tie Loose Strings Tie sashes and strings to prevent tangling.
    — Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of sashes
Verb
  • Phobos, about 20 to 30 kilometers (10 to 20 miles) in diameter, orbits Mars at a distance of about 6,000 kilometers (3,700 miles) three times a day.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 17 Oct. 2026
  • Viewed from a distance, the steady feeding process would proceed like a triangle as the victim brown dwarf orbits the star that is eating it.
    — Robert Lea, Space.com, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of orbits
Verb
  • Much like a tuning fork, the resonator also rings when struck.
    — Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 17 Sep. 2026
  • Well, that promise now rings hollow in the ears of every TSA worker today.
    — Hydrick Thomas, New York Daily News, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of rings
Noun
  • Out in the misty rain, Leibovitz points to the electronic ribbons lining the stadium.
    — Margaux MacColl, Vanity Fair, 21 Oct. 2026
  • However, not long after production wrapped on season two, hair colorist Miichelle Sharma revealed that Abdalla has officially ditched her character’s blonde ribbons for a double-chocolate brunette that’s perfect for fall.
    — Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of ribbons

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Cite this Entry

“Girdles.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/girdles. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

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