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
Those flies themselves depend on sulfur-oxidizing microbes as their primary food source.
—
Humberto Basilio, Scientific American, 7 Nov. 2025
Black Tea Black tea is made from the same Camellia sinensis plant as green tea, but the leaves are fully oxidized, giving it a rich flavor and darker color.
—Caitlin Beale, Health, 4 Nov. 2025
Oxidative Stability Matters More Than Smoke Point Instead of focusing on smoke point, experts say oxidative stability, or how easily an oil oxidizes and breaks down, is a better measure of quality and safety.
—Mira Miller, Verywell Health, 27 Oct. 2025
For instance, these materials are brittle at room temperature, rapidly oxidize, and fail between 600°C (1112°F) to 700°C (1292°F) when exposed to oxygen.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 10 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for oxidize
Humberto Basilio, Scientific American, 7 Nov. 2025
Black Tea Black tea is made from the same Camellia sinensis plant as green tea, but the leaves are fully oxidized, giving it a rich flavor and darker color.
—Caitlin Beale, Health, 4 Nov. 2025
Oxidative Stability Matters More Than Smoke Point Instead of focusing on smoke point, experts say oxidative stability, or how easily an oil oxidizes and breaks down, is a better measure of quality and safety.
—Mira Miller, Verywell Health, 27 Oct. 2025
For instance, these materials are brittle at room temperature, rapidly oxidize, and fail between 600°C (1112°F) to 700°C (1292°F) when exposed to oxygen.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 10 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for oxidize
Recent Examples of Synonyms for oxidize
Verb
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Investigators later searched the Ephrata home and storage unit of Jonathan Christ Gerlach, 34, and reported finding more than 100 human skulls, long bones, mummified hands and feet, two decomposing torsos and other skeletal items.—
Mark Scolforo,
Fortune,
9 Jan. 2026
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For nearly two weeks before embarking on the cross-country road trip, the teenager lived with his parents’ decomposing bodies.—
David Zimmermann,
The Washington Examiner,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Moisture that’s constantly left inside the machine can cause internal parts to rust or corrode.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
9 Jan. 2026
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Bleach may also cause tools to rust prematurely if it isn’t rinsed off properly, and drips stain your clothes.—
Andy Wilcox,
Better Homes & Gardens,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Commercial Sb₂O₃ and Nb₂O₅ were reacted at high temperature in ambient air, yielding uniform rod-like TNO crystals ranging from 500 nm to 2 µm without detectable secondary phases.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
10 Jan. 2026
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But nothing could ease the stress off him more quickly than a running game that invokes fear — any fear, just something that causes a team to actually react to play-action.—
Sam McDowell
January 9,
Kansas City Star,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
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By removing microscopic defects and smoothing the surface, this coating ensures efficient energy flow while preventing the cell from disintegrating under intense heat.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
12 Jan. 2026
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The very flying machine that now seemed destined to disintegrate in midair with us and the little girl.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Along with everything else, Johnson sought to erase the Murphy’s Law mentality of a team that always seemed to find ways to crumble in big moments.—
Dan Wiederer,
New York Times,
7 Jan. 2026
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McKnight was temporarily living in a crumbling budget hotel nearby.—
Saumya Roy,
The Dial,
6 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Or have all of his brain cells corroded away after years of huffing his own scent?—
Tom Smyth,
Vulture,
9 Jan. 2026
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Moisture that’s constantly left inside the machine can cause internal parts to rust or corrode.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
9 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Oxidize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/oxidize. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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