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.
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Recent Examples of mothball
The structure could be mothballed sometime next year until a plan for its reuse is determined.
—
Jason Clayworth, Axios, 15 Jan. 2025
The distillery operated sporadically before being mothballed in 1998 and demolished in 2013.
—Joseph V Micallef, Forbes, 4 Oct. 2024
After being mothballed in 1997, the site became somewhat of an obsession for geologists and entrepreneurs who recognized how much valuable ore remained.
—Christopher Helman, Forbes, 4 Oct. 2024
Three Mile Island’s reactor has been mothballed for five years, not just one.
—IEEE Spectrum, 2 Oct. 2024
See All Example Sentences for mothball
Jason Clayworth, Axios, 15 Jan. 2025
The distillery operated sporadically before being mothballed in 1998 and demolished in 2013.
—Joseph V Micallef, Forbes, 4 Oct. 2024
After being mothballed in 1997, the site became somewhat of an obsession for geologists and entrepreneurs who recognized how much valuable ore remained.
—Christopher Helman, Forbes, 4 Oct. 2024
Three Mile Island’s reactor has been mothballed for five years, not just one.
—IEEE Spectrum, 2 Oct. 2024
See All Example Sentences for mothball
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mothball
Verb
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The Trump Administration is attempting to dismantle the Department of Education.—
Miguel Cardona,
Time,
23 Apr. 2025
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The initial decision to dismantle the police department led to recall petitions to remove several council members and Vice Mayor Ben Nett from office.—
Michael Dorgan,
FOXNews.com,
23 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Mothball.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mothball. Accessed 3 May. 2025.
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