as in to dismantle
to stop using (something) while keeping it to be possibly used in the future
Many navy ships were mothballed after the war.
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar 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 mothball
The Trump rescission bill made it through the House and Senate and mothballs federal funding for National Public Radio, public TV and the U.S. Agency for International Development.
—
Stephen Moore, Boston Herald, 25 July 2025
Forget drill, baby, drill; at current prices America’s drillers have been mothballing rigs at a rapid clip to preserve capital.
—Christopher Helman, Forbes.com, 12 June 2025
The previous administration gradually mothballed most of the signage and emblems that commemorated the franchise’s three World Series championships from 2010 to 2014.
—Andrew Baggarly, New York Times, 8 June 2025
Output from the mine went into a gradual decline following the War, and it was mothballed in 1996.
—David Blackmon, Forbes, 10 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for mothball
Stephen Moore, Boston Herald, 25 July 2025
Forget drill, baby, drill; at current prices America’s drillers have been mothballing rigs at a rapid clip to preserve capital.
—Christopher Helman, Forbes.com, 12 June 2025
The previous administration gradually mothballed most of the signage and emblems that commemorated the franchise’s three World Series championships from 2010 to 2014.
—Andrew Baggarly, New York Times, 8 June 2025
Output from the mine went into a gradual decline following the War, and it was mothballed in 1996.
—David Blackmon, Forbes, 10 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for mothball
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mothball
dismantle
Verb
-
The question now turns to whether the US, UK and their allies can use the leverage from their joint operation effectively to dismantle the highly lucrative industry.—
Helen Regan,
CNN Money,
25 Oct. 2025
-
In a new joint venture redeveloping the marina, Everett Landco announced plans to take down storage tanks and dismantle offices at the location this month, per NBC News.—
Madison E. Goldberg,
PEOPLE,
25 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Mothball.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mothball. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share