as in dismantling
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mothballing
dismantling
Verb
-
Reagan and Thatcher were dismantling the postwar labour settlement—deregulating industries, busting unions, privatizing state assets, cutting corporate taxes from highs above 50% to the 20s.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
17 June 2026 -
The Education Department said McMahon spent over six months in listening sessions with families, advocates and educators to better understand concerns around how the department’s dismantling could affect special education.—
Annie Ma,
Chicago Tribune,
16 June 2026
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.
Cite this Entry
“Mothballing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mothballing. Accessed 24 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
