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 entire composition is then exposed to a corrosive liquid, which oxidizes the copper in the textile, drawing out a chemical-looking green that circulates through the narrow channels between the foil sheets.
—
Theo Belci, Artforum, 1 Feb. 2026
In the hole, life drops away quickly as oxygen disappears, below the surface (Oxic Zone) and transition levels (Suboxic Zone); at 100-140 m (330-460 ft), the third layer called the Anoxic Zone I is almost completely dominated by sulfur-oxidizing bacteria.
—New Atlas, 28 Dec. 2025
For the headstrong, maternal Agnes, who is spiritually caught between the modern world and a more ancient, primal place, Turzanska used a palette of sanguine, rust, russet, crimson, and prune, inspired by the different stages of blood—from freshly oxidized to aged, clotted, and scabbed.
—Elaina Patton, Vogue, 27 Nov. 2025
Each chamber isolates a different set of actives that would otherwise destabilize, oxidize, or lose strength if mixed together in a standard bottle.
—Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 19 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for oxidize
Theo Belci, Artforum, 1 Feb. 2026
In the hole, life drops away quickly as oxygen disappears, below the surface (Oxic Zone) and transition levels (Suboxic Zone); at 100-140 m (330-460 ft), the third layer called the Anoxic Zone I is almost completely dominated by sulfur-oxidizing bacteria.
—New Atlas, 28 Dec. 2025
For the headstrong, maternal Agnes, who is spiritually caught between the modern world and a more ancient, primal place, Turzanska used a palette of sanguine, rust, russet, crimson, and prune, inspired by the different stages of blood—from freshly oxidized to aged, clotted, and scabbed.
—Elaina Patton, Vogue, 27 Nov. 2025
Each chamber isolates a different set of actives that would otherwise destabilize, oxidize, or lose strength if mixed together in a standard bottle.
—Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 19 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for oxidize
Recent Examples of Synonyms for oxidize
Verb
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The Rockaway Times reported the last whale to wash up on the Rockaways was in May 2025, when the decomposing humpback whale showed up on the beach.—
Thomas Tracy,
New York Daily News,
26 Mar. 2026
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Samantha Johnson received a 15-year, 8-month prison sentence from a Merced County Superior Court judge, ending a four-year legal saga that began in March 2022 with the discovery of Sophia’s decomposing body in this Central Valley city.—
Jakob Rodgers,
Mercury News,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Why would Mary Todd Lincoln want to flood my basement and rust my bowflex?—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
12 Mar. 2026
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The tank appeared old and rusted, and was clearly marked.—
Corey J. Murray,
USA Today,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Meanwhile, Pattinson is like a manic roller coaster on screen, increasingly off the rails as the weight of Emma’s reveal has Charlie questioning everything and reacting badly to the situation.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
31 Mar. 2026
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This weak acid can react with alkaline liquids, including industrial wastewater, to form bicarbonate.—
Georgina Jedikovska,
Interesting Engineering,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Last year, the Dominican Republic deported more than 100,000 Haitians back to their disintegrating country.—
George Packer,
The Atlantic,
24 Mar. 2026
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The meteor traveled about 58 miles through the upper atmosphere before disintegrating 29 miles above tiny Calflax in unincorporated Fresno County, Cooke said.—
Darrell Smith,
Sacbee.com,
23 Mar. 2026
Verb
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From government to education to the workplace, DEI is crumbling.—
Greg Cote
Updated March 30,
Miami Herald,
30 Mar. 2026
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After crumbling due to the pressure at the Olympics, Malinin soared at the Figure Skating World Championships, putting on a strong short program before a clean free skate to give him his third-straight men's world title.—
Tyler Erzberger,
MSNBC Newsweek,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
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But, as steel casings corrode and seabed activity increases, engineers are growing increasingly concerned that weapons once assumed inert are becoming sources of long-term contamination.—
Christopher McFadden,
Interesting Engineering,
25 Mar. 2026
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The mayor cited an example of streetlight poles whose bases are so rusted and corroded that there is a danger of them toppling over.—
Kenneth R. Gosselin,
Hartford Courant,
16 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Oxidize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/oxidize. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.
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