as in to decompose
to combine chemically with oxygen
Iron will oxidize if it is exposed to air and moisture.
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Recent Examples of oxidize
The palettes are often chalky and austere—bleached grays, oxidized browns—and the subject matter can blur into undifferentiated bulk.
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Eren Orbey,
New Yorker,
23 June 2026
While the electron travels to the cathode to reduce carbon dioxide, the remaining hole simultaneously oxidizes the biomass molecule 5-Hydroxymethyl-2-furoic acid (HMFA), thereby executing two distinct chemical upgrades at the same time.
—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
12 June 2026
Now iconic green, the statue was copper-colored for around 30 years until the metal had oxidized.
—
Don Riddell,
CNN Money,
1 June 2026
Chlorinated water increases transepidermal water loss — meaning skin literally can’t hold onto hydration as well — and chlorine oxidizes hair proteins, leaving strands brittle and prone to breakage.
—
Allison Palmer,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
15 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for oxidize
Eren Orbey,
New Yorker,
23 June 2026
While the electron travels to the cathode to reduce carbon dioxide, the remaining hole simultaneously oxidizes the biomass molecule 5-Hydroxymethyl-2-furoic acid (HMFA), thereby executing two distinct chemical upgrades at the same time.
—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
12 June 2026
Now iconic green, the statue was copper-colored for around 30 years until the metal had oxidized.
—
Don Riddell,
CNN Money,
1 June 2026
Chlorinated water increases transepidermal water loss — meaning skin literally can’t hold onto hydration as well — and chlorine oxidizes hair proteins, leaving strands brittle and prone to breakage.
—
Allison Palmer,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
15 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for oxidize
Recent Examples of Synonyms for oxidize
Verb
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The Yolo County Central Landfill will build a new system that will convert methane from decomposing waste into renewable natural gas, the county announced Tuesday.
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The ocean becomes a creamy expanse splotched with brown mats of decomposing algae, according to photos shared by Abrams.
Verb
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Anyone caught on the receiving end of a DIY soccer cleat loaded with sharp, likely rusting metal nails probably wasn’t getting back up to finish the game.
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Part of the fun is how Young himself refuses to rust into a nostalgia act.
Verb
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As reflected in an email thread used in the Watson case, Valentine reacted skeptically in 2019 when a colleague told her a particular hospital wanted to exit its contract with Mead Johnson.
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Rip currents are formidable natural forces, but knowing how to react can significantly increase your chances of safely navigating these challenging waters.
Verb
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That changed in April 2023 when unknowing construction workers unceremoniously removed a disintegrating Pinky from its eyrie.
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The experiments have shown how a self-repair mechanism enables the spindle to stabilize itself under force and avoid disintegrating.
Verb
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Jan Paul van Hecke of the Netherlands has been involved in two scraps already, the latest when he was hit while going for a header and crumbled, perhaps exaggerating a tad, after Morocco's Azzedine Ounahi challenged the header, as well.
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Survivors say that doors to the facility were locked and that migrants were left to die inside crumbling walls.
Verb
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Our first commercial tactile gloves failed within a week because some people's hands are sweaty enough to corrode the wiring.
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Affected cars have driver's side airbags with connectors that may corrode, which could cause the airbag to not deploy and increase the risk of injury or death.
Cite this Entry
“Oxidize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/oxidize. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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