oxidize

verb

Definition of oxidizenext
as in to decompose
to combine chemically with oxygen Iron will oxidize if it is exposed to air and moisture.

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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 oxidize These elements cause stains that can oxidize over time, leading to discoloration. — Kait Hanson, Southern Living, 22 Aug. 2026 The sun really did a number on it, oxidizing the paint, while water also found its way into one of the engines. — Caleb Jacobs, The Drive, 20 Aug. 2026 These oxidizing species can chemically react with the membrane that surrounds a bacterium, damaging and destroying it. — Rahul Rao, Space.com, 19 Aug. 2026 The other is methemoglobinemia, a condition where hemoglobin is oxidized into a form that can’t release oxygen to tissue. — Jesse M. Pines, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for oxidize
Recent Examples of Synonyms for oxidize
  1. decompose
  2. rust
  3. react
  4. disintegrate
  5. crumble
  6. corrode
Verb
  • Most of the remains were severely decomposed, but investigators believed Montgomery had been dead for less than a day when he was found.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 10 Sep. 2026
  • Fifteen months later, 56 decomposing bodies were found at their South Chicago Chapel.
    — Susana Mendoza, Chicago Tribune, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of decompose
Verb
  • Preparing for a possible attack, the gunner fired a heavy-caliber round from his rusting weapon.
    — Nic Robertson, CNN Money, 10 Sep. 2026
  • It’s designed to stand up to harsh weather conditions without rusting or corroding—no furniture covers needed—and comes partially pre-assembled for breezy setup.
    — Better Homes & Gardens, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Sep. 2026
Definition of rust
Verb
  • Apparently the trick is to react more to the tone and tempo of the voice, rather than necessarily the precise words.
    — Nick Miller, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026
  • Oil prices have been on a rollercoaster this year, oscillating as traders react to flare-ups in fighting and monitor oil tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.
    — John Towfighi, CNN Money, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of react
Verb
  • In an instant, my protective shield disintegrated, leaving me raw and exposed.
    — Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 10 Sep. 2026
  • Watch On Their goal was to understand what happens when satellites disintegrate and what chemical compounds arise in the process.
    — Tereza Pultarova, Space.com, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of disintegrate
Verb
  • Concrete barriers designed to keep cars out of the secure area crumbled as the jet, weighing more than 100 tons, headed straight for a four-lane road.
    — Maria Aguilar Prieto, CNN Money, 7 Sep. 2026
  • And over the years, this utopian town, which at the beginning looked great, has completely crumbled into a world of recluses and hoarders.
    — Elisabeth Garber-Paul, Rolling Stone, 7 Sep. 2026
Definition of crumble
Verb
  • The element reacts violently with moisture, corrodes rapidly in normal air, and poses an immediate fire hazard if exposed to humidity.
    — Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 4 Sep. 2026
  • After 3,000 drops, roughly equivalent to an afternoon of moderate rain, the copper plate beneath all four surfaces had corroded, despite its Teflon coating.
    — Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of corrode

Browse Nearby Words

oxcarts
oxidize
oxidized
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Cite this Entry

“Oxidize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/oxidize. Accessed 13 Sep. 2026.

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