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
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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
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3
as in surrounding
to form a circle around
the rings that famously girdle the planet Saturn
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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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The Truck was actually designed with wrapping it front of mind, explaining the boxy shape.
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With Endgame's story wrapping here, attention is already turning to the next Call of Duty, Modern Warfare 4.
Verb
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Variety has learned that Mubi is pursuing the film, with Neon also possibly circling.
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Other wearable tech companies have been circling this space.
Verb
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The Pima County Sheriff’s Department continues to work closely with the FBI as investigators follow up on leads, review information, and pursue the facts surrounding this case.
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The trade comes after years of uncertainty surrounding Milwaukee's direction following the departure of championship-winning head coach Mike Budenholzer in 2023 and caps a steady decline that culminated in the Bucks missing the 2026 playoffs.
Verb
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Known for traversing the comedy club scene throughout the Big Apple, the stand-up artist is taking her talents on the road for the remainder of the year as part of a cross-country tour.
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Every year, about 90% of Central Oregon’s Deschutes River disappears into networks of canals and pipes traversing high desert.
Verb
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Cheers roared from the crowd encircling the concrete arena as two skateboarders slammed into each other at top speed.
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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.
Verb
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If a planet is orbiting the closer star, its gravity also slightly bends this light.
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But the extraordinary interest in the IPO was driven by Musk’s plans to make the company an AI leader — including plans to launch orbiting satellite data centers powered by the sun that crunch AI data.
Cite this Entry
“Girdling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/girdling. Accessed 29 Jun. 2026.
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