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

Relevance

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
What unites them is the belief that camps can help mold character and instill the values children will carry into adulthood. — Seth T. Kannarr, Fortune, 13 July 2026 Try to find ones that have raised ports, not ones with replaceable flowers, because mold can get trapped in them. — Caron Golden, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 July 2026
Verb
Some are molded into corn on the cob, celery and rhubarb shapes. — Lisa Boone, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026 That means items that frequently get wet, like hedge clippers, gardening gloves, and water toys, won’t mold and mildew when they’re put away. — Shea Simmons, Southern Living, 29 June 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
  • Alford also commented on the recent Supreme Court decision upholding the long-standing interpretation that anyone born on American soil is an American citizen.
    — Jack Harvel, Kansas City Star, 10 July 2026
  • German rockets launching from Canadian soil may be a bridge to that until Canadian companies can develop their own boosters.
    — Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 10 July 2026
Definition of soil
Verb
  • What remains that haven’t been scavenged have decomposed to the point where DNA analysis is difficult and all but useless in Gaza, where there are no functioning laboratories able to test and compare samples.
    — Bilal Shbeir, Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2026
  • Earwigs primarily feed on plants and decomposing organic matter and do not infest or damage stored food in the way some beetles, weevils, and moths might.
    — Nafeesah Allen, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 July 2026
Definition of decompose
Noun
  • Turn hard, compacted dirt into rich, workable soil in no time with the Sun Joe Electric Garden Tiller.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 10 July 2026
  • Kate Roberts secretly arranged to dig up dirt on her rival and Sheryl's old friend, Jordan Ridgeway.
    — Taijuan Moorman, USA Today, 10 July 2026
Definition of dirt
Verb
  • In his inital letter, Lehmkuhl agreed that there is an urgent need to clear debris and address the persistent odor of millions of pounds of rotting food at the site.
    — Jasmine Mendez Follow, Los Angeles Times, 4 July 2026
  • Applying mulch directly against plant stems traps moisture, leading to rotting and other issues.
    — Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 July 2026
Definition of rot
Noun
  • While on the road - Opt for the middle lanes and remain on higher ground.
    — CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 15 July 2026
  • But like its tenacious relic-hunting heroine, the enduring property is always treading new ground.
    — Matt Cabral, Entertainment Weekly, 15 July 2026
Definition of ground
Verb
  • In the two-thousands, after the State disintegrated, Wain and two other members, Michael Showalter and Michael Ian Black, formed the trio Stella, which helped define New York’s downtown alt-comedy scene.
    — Michael Schulman, New Yorker, 5 July 2026
  • That changed in April 2023 when unknowing construction workers unceremoniously removed a disintegrating Pinky from its eyrie.
    — Ryan Steven Green, Los Angeles Times, 29 June 2026
Definition of disintegrate
Noun
  • Every major hotel brand in the world has built a bungalow in the sand—or over the water.
    — Katie Lockhart, Robb Report, 16 July 2026
  • The audience will be setting out beach towels on the sand south of the pier, with a footprint that extends down about a half-mile to Bay Street, with a secondary stage and plenty of food and other attractions along the oceanside paths.
    — Chris Willman, Variety, 16 July 2026
Definition of sand
Verb
  • Leave some messiness in your garden and leave the leaves, as decaying leaves are great habitat for fireflies.
    — Janet Loehrke, USA Today, 5 July 2026
  • Many kinds of fly larvae eat dead or decaying tissue and may sometimes end up on meat, but New World screwworm larvae need living tissue to survive and develop.
    — Jen Christensen, CNN Money, 5 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 18 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on mold

Nglish: Translation of mold for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about mold

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!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

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

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

Commonly Misspelled Words
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

The Words of the Week - Jul 17
See More

Popular

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat
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
child-detective
Spot the Misspelled Word July 2026 Those little red underlines can't help you now...
See All