1
as in wrapping
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in circling
to travel completely around
an asteroid belt that girdles the inner planets of the solar system
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in surrounding
to form a circle around
the rings that famously girdle the planet Saturn
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of girdling
Also, the rootball should be inspected for circling or girdling roots.
—
Larry Figart, Florida Times-Union, 14 Jan. 2026
Removing this layer restricts the tree from moving water up from the roots or nutrients back down, a process known as girdling.
—Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 Nov. 2025
The new levee begins at the city of San Mateo’s border and runs below the San Mateo Bridge before girdling the city’s borders.
—John King, San Francisco Chronicle, 20 Nov. 2023
Larry Figart, Florida Times-Union, 14 Jan. 2026
Removing this layer restricts the tree from moving water up from the roots or nutrients back down, a process known as girdling.
—Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 Nov. 2025
The new levee begins at the city of San Mateo’s border and runs below the San Mateo Bridge before girdling the city’s borders.
—John King, San Francisco Chronicle, 20 Nov. 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for girdling
Verb
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In 2025, soon after closing its merger with Skydance, Paramount clinched a 7-year deal with the UFC as the mixed martial arts circuit was wrapping its deal with ESPN.—
Dade Hayes,
Deadline,
4 June 2026
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Cullen is accused of transporting his mother's deceased body from Lee County to Charlotte County, wrapping her in a rug, weighing it down with cinder blocks, and disposing of it in the river.—
Ana Maria Soler,
CBS News,
3 June 2026
Verb
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Decades after Julian’s vanishing there, the band and various hangers-on recall eerie incidents both in and out of the house—rooms full of occult literature; pub full of haunting photographs—as well as the glimmering stranger circling the Orpheus-esque Julian.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
2 June 2026
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Plates of spicy edamame, beautifully cut sashimi and nigiri, panko-coated shrimp, and cooked-to-perfection sirloin and broccolini are all worth circling on the menu for future reference, as are the delicate strawberry and cheesecake mochi that round the sitting off.—
Lauren Keith,
Robb Report,
30 May 2026
Verb
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The backstory Lizard Island was declared a National Park in 1937, the surrounding waters were recognised as a National Marine Park in 1974, and the Great Barrier Reef was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1981.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
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While questions continue to swirl regarding the possibility of biological lifeforms being in the possession of the federal government, Heckenlively is offering a stark warning surrounding the reality of aliens and humans coming into contact with each other.—
Julia Bonavita,
FOXNews.com,
25 May 2026
Verb
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On the Iron Horse Regional Trail traversing Contra Costa and Alameda counties, the whir of electric bikes has become part of the summer soundtrack.—
Maddie White,
CBS News,
26 May 2026
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Over 65 hours The longest Amtrak train route is the Texas Eagle, which runs between Chicago and Los Angeles with a long leg spent traversing Texas (hence the name).—
Evie Carrick,
Travel + Leisure,
23 May 2026
Verb
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Styled by Brad Goreski, Moore wore a custom cobalt blue Self Portrait gown with an oversized bow encircling the hips, falling into a train.—
Anna Cafolla,
Vogue,
22 May 2026
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Bad weather postponed a major construction project on Atlanta's primary highway encircling the city last weekend, but now the traffic chaos is here.—
Irene Wright,
USA Today,
15 May 2026
Verb
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The mission spent more than 11 years orbiting Mars and studying its upper atmosphere.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
3 June 2026
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Scientists believe that one of the planetary nebula’s two orbiting stars — once bigger than our sun — gave up the ghost.—
Marcia Dunn,
Los Angeles Times,
1 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Girdling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/girdling. Accessed 9 Jun. 2026.
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