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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As Jordan celebrated, cameras caught him approaching Hamlin, wrapping his hand around his neck in a playful chokehold and planting a kiss on his head before walking off.—
Ryan Brennan
April 22,
Kansas City Star,
22 Apr. 2026
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Balor clotheslined Mysterio, hit him with a chair multiple times before wrapping his head in between the chair and drop-kicking him into the corner.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
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News of his involvement comes following our story yesterday on McCarthy circling the project.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
22 Apr. 2026
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Harris spent the morning circling the block waiting for news.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
21 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Kate Perez The royal visit is part of the celebrations surrounding the 250th anniversary of the United States.—
Kathryn Palmer,
USA Today,
28 Apr. 2026
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Such events underscore the complicated security questions surrounding presidential protection in a country where citizens expect their leaders to move through public spaces, hold rallies, attend events and appear before crowds.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The Iran war has led to a virtual stoppage in ships traversing the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, constraining the flow of global energy supplies.—
Mary Cunningham,
CBS News,
22 Apr. 2026
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Soon, Callaghan — alongside Nic Mosher and Evan Gilbert-Katz — was traversing the country in a shabby RV, documenting the surreal, perturbing and often hilarious fringes of American culture.—
Kevin Dolak,
HollywoodReporter,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
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If your houseplant was severely pot-bound with encircling roots, trim the overgrown roots back by one-third.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
12 Apr. 2026
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In recent years, Beijing has stepped up military drills near Taiwan, even encircling the island by land, air and sea last year.—
Ashish Valentine,
NPR,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Astronomers have so far cataloged about 6,000 planets orbiting nearby stars, noted Nicola Fox, associate administrator for NASA’s Science Mission Directorate, at the news event.—
Dan Vergano,
Scientific American,
22 Apr. 2026
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The satellite was supposed to join AST SpaceMobile’s orbiting network of satellites designed to provide direct space-to-smart phone service.—
Marcia Dunn,
Fortune,
20 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Girdling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/girdling. Accessed 29 Apr. 2026.
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