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moldering 1 of 3

adjective

as in rotting

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moldering

2 of 3

noun

as in fermentation

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moldering

3 of 3

verb

present participle of molder
as in decomposing
to go through decomposition leaves moldering in the compost pile

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 moldering
Verb
Getting the rotting food off racks towering six stories high required hundreds of workers in protective suits to dislodge the moldering food. — Roger Vincent, Los Angeles Times, 17 Sep. 2026 Anna Anosowicz’s highly resourceful production design makes excellent use of existing midcentury brutalist architecture and far more ancient, enduring structures, all moldering under superficially futuristic window-dressing. — Guy Lodge, Variety, 20 Aug. 2026 Developer John Dewberry is responsible for the site, and has a reputation for leaving half-finished, moldering construction projects in his wake. — Aj Willingham, AJC.com, 15 July 2026 They were set in crumbling castles and moldering dungeons—that is, amid the rubble of a collapsing social order. — Becca Rothfeld, New Yorker, 1 June 2026 The spooky environs created by production designer Til Frohlich are the stuff nightmares are made of; the murky bathtub, moldering linens and secret compartments that go bump in the night. — Katie Walsh, Twin Cities, 2 May 2026 Rolston added that the type of pests a moldering stump can attract aren’t an issue that will necessarily affect that old stump alone—the pest problem can spread. — Steven John, Architectural Digest, 16 Feb. 2026 But then a fresh corpse turns up, as well as a long-moldering skeleton, and the club members are off and running. — Tom Gliatto, People.com, 27 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for moldering
  1. moldy
  2. fermentation
  3. rotting
  4. decaying
  5. crumbling
  6. decomposing
  7. putrescent
  8. disintegration
Adjective
  • Key Takeaways Fresh ginger should feel firm, with plump knobs and taut skin, while soft or moldy pieces should be avoided.
    — Kathleen Ferraro, Verywell Health, 15 Sep. 2026
  • If the produce’s skin is moldy, slimy, or rotten, it should be discarded regardless of type, as mold can penetrate beyond the visible surface.
    — Bridget Shirvell, Martha Stewart, 13 Sep. 2026
Definition of moldy
Noun
  • The fermentation process also reduces kefir’s lactose content because its microorganisms consume some of the milk sugar.
    — Daryl Austin, USA Today, 16 Sep. 2026
  • One such ingredient is the organic miso produced by the American Miso Company in nearby Rutherford, where a climate similar to Japan’s provides favorable conditions for the natural fermentation process.
    — Heidi Finley, Charlotte Observer, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of fermentation
Verb
  • The fire’s aftermath was just as bad, with cleanup crews having to contend with removing 89 million pounds of thawing, rotting meat, debris and other material.
    — Alex Wigglesworth, Los Angeles Times, 23 Sep. 2026
  • Trim away any soft or rotting roots with a clean, sharp knife.
    — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 17 Sep. 2026
Definition of rotting
Adjective
  • Liberal critics, however, argued—also rightly—that the Soviet Union was a decaying, economically crippled giant by the time Reagan was inaugurated.
    — Tom Nichols, The Atlantic, 14 Aug. 2026
  • The district also could be in for other major changes in the coming years, including the opening of a few new schools to replace multiple decaying, underenrolled schools.
    — Scott Travis, Miami Herald, 15 May 2026
Definition of decaying
Noun
  • Besides preventing mold and mildew, cleaning will also reduce unpleasant odors and prevent cracking and crumbling of your seal.
    — Caroline Lubinsky, Martha Stewart, 6 Sep. 2026
  • The rest of the world is watching the crumbling of America’s economic relationship with its closest trading partner, and an administration that is calling into question the sanctity of free trade agreements generally.
    — Kate Nishimura, Footwear News, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of crumbling
Verb
  • Maintain The Lawn Lovebugs lay their eggs in moist, decomposing materials.
    — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 17 Sep. 2026
  • Fifteen months later, 56 decomposing bodies were found at their South Chicago Chapel.
    — Susana Mendoza, Chicago Tribune, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of decomposing
Adjective
  • This putrescent combination of sky-high home prices, rising mortgage rates and stifling consumer inflation have forced all but the wealthiest or most determined buyers out of a new home.
    — Q.ai - Powering a Personal Wealth Movement, Forbes, 17 Aug. 2022
Definition of putrescent
Noun
  • Understandably, supporters may wonder if this disintegration should pose any lasting cause for concern.
    — Beren Cross, New York Times, 10 Sep. 2026
  • Son of a partisan fighter The son of a World War Two partisan fighter killed in 1945, Mladic was an officer in the old communist Yugoslav People's Army (JNA) when Yugoslavia's disintegration began in 1991.
    — Ivana Sekularac, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of disintegration

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Cite this Entry

“Moldering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/moldering. Accessed 27 Sep. 2026.

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