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
Coffee beans that have oxidized can grow stale, and stale coffee beans aren’t likely to result in a delicious pot of coffee.
—
Stacey Lastoe, Southern Living, 2 May 2026
Inside the cell, the coal particles are directly oxidized through an oxide membrane, producing an electrochemical reaction that generates electricity on the spot.
—Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 26 Apr. 2026
Enstatite chondrites are the least oxidized chondrites, carbonaceous ones are the most oxidized, and ordinary chondrites have an intermediate oxidation level.
—Javier Barbuzano, Scientific American, 22 Apr. 2026
The acid prevents cut apples from oxidizing and turning brown, while keeping sliced avocadoes or guacamole bright green.
—Catharine Kaufman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for oxidize
Stacey Lastoe, Southern Living, 2 May 2026
Inside the cell, the coal particles are directly oxidized through an oxide membrane, producing an electrochemical reaction that generates electricity on the spot.
—Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 26 Apr. 2026
Enstatite chondrites are the least oxidized chondrites, carbonaceous ones are the most oxidized, and ordinary chondrites have an intermediate oxidation level.
—Javier Barbuzano, Scientific American, 22 Apr. 2026
The acid prevents cut apples from oxidizing and turning brown, while keeping sliced avocadoes or guacamole bright green.
—Catharine Kaufman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for oxidize
Recent Examples of Synonyms for oxidize
Verb
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Large die-offs can also create environmental and public health concerns, as fish begin to decompose in shallow waters and along shorelines.—
Moná Thomas,
PEOPLE,
10 June 2026
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Typically, the district allows dead fish to decompose in the lake, but because the smell was so substantial, contractors removed many of the dead fish ahead of the weekend, with a focus on public spaces, Belden said.—
Tyler Quattrin,
Twin Cities,
10 June 2026
Verb
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Check for metal clasps, which can rust.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
10 June 2026
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Although statistics suggest that the city has made headway on homelessness, makeshift encampments and rows of rusting RVs remain commonplace.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
9 June 2026
Verb
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The agents personify a government that desperately fears how the public will react to intel about our decades-long interactions with other species that have kept under lock and key.—
Randy Myers,
Mercury News,
9 June 2026
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On the other hand, if the gold structure is a square pattern, oxygen molecules readily stick to the surface and are deformed to the point of splitting, leaving them available to react (indeed, under these conditions, gold will oxidize as well).—
Chris Lee,
ArsTechnica,
9 June 2026
Verb
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None are quite about the conflicting frames of reference and value that arise when an ancient cultural formation disintegrates and a successor has yet to take its place.—
Becca Rothfeld,
New Yorker,
1 June 2026
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Right now, the rings furthest from the planet are disintegrating and drifting into space.—
David M. Drucker,
Twin Cities,
31 May 2026
Verb
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In the background, in the doorway of a crumbling stone building, stands a tiny, faceless figure, her arms held neatly behind her back.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
9 June 2026
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But his empire began to crumble in 2022 when FTX filed for bankruptcy after experiencing billions of dollars in net withdrawals, fueling panic in the crypto industry.—
Samantha Delouya,
CNN Money,
8 June 2026
Verb
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But if a transmission main breaks or a treatment plant makes a mistake, that plaque could corrode or dislodge.—
Sophie Hartley,
IndyStar,
4 June 2026
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Neither captures the gut punch of betrayal when something precious is corroded beyond recognition.—
Eric Ries,
Time,
28 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Oxidize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/oxidize. Accessed 14 Jun. 2026.
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