mold 1 of 2

noun

Definition of moldnext
as in soil
the loose surface material in which plants naturally grow mold so rich that just about anything will grow in it

Synonyms & Similar Words

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mold

2 of 2

verb

as in to decompose
to go through decomposition plants molding in the abandoned garden

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 mold
Noun
Bathrooms, basements and other wet areas need plenty of ventilation to prevent mold and mildew. — Dr. Lauren Zajac, Boston Herald, 19 July 2026 Aviator’s Restaurant at Sacramento Executive Airport remains closed six months after a routine kitchen floor repair uncovered crumbling concrete, corroded rebar, asbestos and mold. — Sacbee.com, 18 July 2026
Verb
The four women have returned to the system that helped mold them under a new name, performing music that system might never have written on its own had they not reached out for greater control. — Jeff Benjamin, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026 The berries will mold faster if damaged, and the mold can quickly spread to nearby strawberries. — Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 17 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for mold
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mold
  1. soil
  2. decompose
  3. dirt
  4. rot
  5. ground
  6. disintegrate
  7. sand
  8. decay
Noun
  • In its simplest form, scientists can put a chunk of soil in a mason jar, measure how much gas is released over time, then extrapolate a total figure.
    — Denise Hruby, Miami Herald, 31 July 2026
  • Electronics and small appliances contain chemicals such as lead and mercury that could contaminate landfill soil and groundwater.
    — Nafeesah Allen, Better Homes & Gardens, 31 July 2026
Definition of soil
Verb
  • Authorities said the remains included bones believed to belong to four newborns and the decomposing body of a fifth.
    — Landon Mion, FOXNews.com, 29 July 2026
  • Ament revisited his archive of decomposing negatives with his brother, designer Barry Ament, a few years ago.
    — Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 29 July 2026
Definition of decompose
Noun
  • That one feature has taken Volkwine’s crew more than five months of moving dirt, laying rebar and concrete and hand-shaping every line in the smooth surface that untold numbers of skaters and bikers will use starting this fall.
    — Noah Daly July 31, Idaho Statesman, 31 July 2026
  • All that spectacle is unmatched in American and in global Thoroughbred racing on dirt, and to varying degrees all of it freaks out each and every horse that runs in it.
    — Guy Martin, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026
Definition of dirt
Verb
  • More than 85 million pounds of food were being stored at the warehouse, and as of Wednesday, 3,195 tons of the now-rotting material had been removed from the site, according to Lineage.
    — City News Service, Daily News, 25 July 2026
  • But in the weeks since, the stench of rotting food has drifted into nearby neighborhoods.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 25 July 2026
Definition of rot
Noun
  • Such is the fate that befalls Meta, whose shares fell as much as 10% in after-hours trading Wednesday after the company missed earnings due to costs ballooning 55% (Meta’s stock later recovered some ground and was down 7%).
    — Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 30 July 2026
  • In 2012, China occupied Scarborough Shoal, a traditional Filipino fishing ground inside the Philippines’ EEZ, endangering the lives of Philippine personnel and fishermen in the process.
    — Jill Goldenziel, Forbes.com, 30 July 2026
Definition of ground
Verb
  • Comedy is a delicate object; a funny play on words in one language might disintegrate in another.
    — Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 30 July 2026
  • The breakaway Super League succumbed to the pressure and disintegrated quickly, with nine of its founding members withdrawing in a matter of days.
    — Justin Birnbaum, Sportico.com, 30 July 2026
Definition of disintegrate
Noun
  • Several inches of sand fill the front row of Aliso Beach's parking lot after surf coupled with high tides pounded the Orange County shore.
    — Michele Gile, CBS News, 31 July 2026
  • The ability to walk from your bed to the sand and stare at the sea is the star of the show here.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 July 2026
Definition of sand
Verb
  • Blackwater of the Okefenokee Swamp, caused by tannins leached from decaying vegetation, reflects cypress trees at the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, Tuesday, August 12, 2025, in Folkston.
    — Charles Seabrook, AJC.com, 25 July 2026
  • During the second inspection, inspectors found decaying organic waste, wastewater, food residue, unsanitary conditions that allowed the breeding of flies, as well as live and dead flies along the northern perimeter of the warehouse.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 25 July 2026
Definition of decay

Browse Nearby Words

mokes
mold
moldable
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Mold.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mold. Accessed 2 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on mold

Nglish: Translation of mold for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about mold

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