husk 1 of 2

noun

ˈhəsk How to pronounce husk (audio)
Definition of husknext
as in sheath
something that encloses another thing especially to protect it corn husks a high stone wall is the husk that protects the actor from prying curiosity seekers

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

husk

2 of 2

verb

as in to peel
to remove the natural covering of the tedious task of husking coconuts

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 husk
Noun
This could be a daily task when the weather is hot, especially when your spillers are in a small container or a coconut husk hanging flower basket, as the moisture evaporates more quickly. — Gemma Johnstone, The Spruce, 22 July 2026 Psyllium Fiber Psyllium is a soluble fiber made from the husks of Plantago ovata seeds. — Sara Hoffman, Verywell Health, 20 July 2026
Verb
For less fuss, feel free to fully husk the corn and wrap it in foil. — Sunset Magazine, 1 July 2022 Some sold for several hundred dollars, husks good only for spare parts. — Aaron Calvin, USA TODAY, 16 Sep. 2019 See All Example Sentences for husk
Recent Examples of Synonyms for husk
  1. sheath
  2. bark
  3. casing
  4. shell
  5. hull
  6. housing
Noun
  • The two-time Olympic champion from Norway hadn’t raced since having surgery early this year to clean up scar tissue on the protective sheath around his left Achilles tendon.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Gay then allegedly returned to his vehicle and came back with a machete in its sheath.
    — Natasha Holt, FOXNews.com, 9 Aug. 2026
Definition of sheath
Verb
  • While some Boeing planes also use PTUs, the mechanism is different and doesn’t produce the same barking sound.
    — Joey Skladany, Travel + Leisure, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Instead of barking back, his commander accepted the boundary and deferred the task to the following week.
    — Mark Nevins, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of bark
Noun
  • Its front door was six inches too short for its frame and outfitted with a bathroom push knob instead of a lever handle, almost as if the original slab had been blown from its casing by an internal explosion.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 11 Aug. 2026
  • One of those shell casings was entered into the ATF’s National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN), which compares shell casings and other evidence and connects them to shootings involving the same firearm.
    — Mark Morales, CNN Money, 9 Aug. 2026
Definition of casing
Noun
  • Perfectly untraceable and perfectly legal, American shell companies became by the late 2010s the go-to tools for anyone looking to hide their financial tracks for any reason.
    — Casey Michel, The Atlantic, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Timber roofs, wood floors and interior framing in historic buildings are extremely vulnerable to fire and can let fire jump building to building, but the load-bearing masonry shell often survives.
    — Giorgia Giardina, The Conversation, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of shell
Noun
  • More launch capacity would extend that combat endurance without requiring a much larger hull.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 14 Aug. 2026
  • People with digestive conditions that require a temporary low-fiber diet during flare-ups may also need to limit unhulled sesame seeds, since their fiber-rich outer hull can be difficult to tolerate.
    — Daryl Austin, USA Today, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of hull
Noun
  • The distinctive frame already resembles the aircraft that will eventually soar through Titan’s dense orange skies, complete with landing skids, support arms for its eight rotors and the housing for its nuclear power system.
    — Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Algorithms have indeed been found to disadvantage Black people in hiring, healthcare, policing, lending, housing and other domains.
    — Shaun Harper, AJC.com, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of housing

Browse Nearby Words

hush (up)
husk
husked
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Husk.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/husk. Accessed 18 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on husk

Nglish: Translation of husk for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about husk

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of oxymoron

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

Is “GIF” Pronounced “Jiff” or “Giff”?

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
image of a green cube out of place in a lineup of red spheres
Odd Word Out: Synonyms Vol. 2 Quiz Figure out which word isn't like the others.
See All