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
Inspectors found rodents, roaches and mold at multiple Tarrant County food establishments during the latest round of health inspections, according to the inspection report. — Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 Aug. 2026 Set them stem-end down to prevent mold from developing where the stem connected. — Nan Sterman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 Aug. 2026
Verb
Smith said after the dogs' proficiency as workers was recognized, breeders brought them across the Atlantic to develop them further in England, as the Earl of Malmesbury sought to mold them into hunters in the 1800s . — Pat Mueller, USA Today, 24 July 2026 Early cultural exchanges played a key role in molding Sino-Indian relations, particularly the spread of Buddhism from India to China. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 22 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
  • Once the plastic ends up in a landfill, the tubes slowly fragment into microplastics that can get into the air, soil, and water.
    — Anne Makovec, CBS News, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Struck again on home soil by an audacious, if nongovernmental, enemy, the United States was again at war.
    — Tracy Grant, Encyclopedia Britannica, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of soil
Verb
  • An investigation was underway at a Far South Side funeral home after more than 50 decomposing bodies were found in the facility.
    — Todd Feurer, CBS News, 7 Aug. 2026
  • In 2023, nearly 200 decomposing bodies were found in a building in Colorado, and another 31 decomposing bodies were discovered at an Indiana funeral home.
    — Allison Kiehl, Chicago Tribune, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of decompose
Noun
  • Store them in dedicated shoe bags Getting dirt and grime from your shoes on your clean clothes won’t end your trip early.
    — Katie Jackson, Travel + Leisure, 8 Aug. 2026
  • This fall delivers special access to Keeneland’s 90th anniversary and, for the first time since 2020, the Breeders' Cup World Championships back on its own dirt and turf.
    — Jill Barth, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of dirt
Verb
  • Second, and perhaps more scientific (as far as these things go) is the fact that Sunfyre had not, in any way, begun to rot.
    — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 3 Aug. 2026
  • The result will be a multi-trunk tree with weak branches growing from a rotting stump that can attract pests like termites and carpenter ants.
    — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 2 Aug. 2026
Definition of rot
Noun
  • That’s when the north grounds of President's Park were thronged with booths, and attending crowds watched horse racing and cockfighting, according to the White House Historical Association.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 6 Aug. 2026
  • Austin Riley drove in the first run of the night with a ground-rule double.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of ground
Verb
  • It was revealed that the NFL quarterback’s relationship with the family had disintegrated over the years.
    — Leigh Blickley, Entertainment Weekly, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Comedy is a delicate object; a funny play on words in one language might disintegrate in another.
    — Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 30 July 2026
Definition of disintegrate
Noun
  • Around them, the sand and sky are painted so thinly that the weave of the canvas shows through; the shoreline is scumbled; the distant boats are a few strokes of wet on wet paint.
    — Carmen Rosenberg-Miller, Artforum, 6 Aug. 2026
  • Another new attraction that would satisfy a demand from residents is a skate park, which would be placed on the northwest corner where there are now sand volleyball courts.
    — Jim Woods, Chicago Tribune, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of sand
Verb
  • Event speakers on Thursday acknowledged the roadblocks facing foreign companies in Venezuela, including decaying infrastructure, political uncertainty and the instability wrought by June’s devastating earthquake.
    — Anna Cooban, CNN Money, 2 Aug. 2026
  • Second, the array will track decay pathways that mirror stellar reactions, showing how heavy elements form during supernovae and neutron star collisions.
    — Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of decay

Browse Nearby Words

mokes
mold
moldable
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Cite this Entry

“Mold.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mold. Accessed 8 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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