1,400 new words in our dictionary! — Parasocial, glow-up, promposal & more
1,400 new words in our dictionary! — More

perishable

adjective

Definition of perishablenext
as in fragile
likely to spoil or decay quickly; not likely to stay fresh for a long time if not eaten or used Don't buy large amounts of perishable foods like produce before you leave for vacation.

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

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 perishable Since strawberries are highly perishable, spotting any bruising or damage means mold spores have an easier place to begin spreading across the fruit, warns Jared Hibbard-Swanson, a food security and safety program manager. — Olivia McIntosh, Martha Stewart, 30 Aug. 2026 Stock up on non-perishable food, water, hygiene items, and disposable utensils for 3–7 days. — Maria Sabella, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 Aug. 2026 The perishable fruits and vegetables were long imported through the Strait of Hormuz to Saudi Arabia’s eastern coasts, now closed by dueling blockades and Iranian demands to extract tolls. — Taylor Luck, Christian Science Monitor, 17 Aug. 2026 During weekend camping trips, lunch meat and other perishable foods need to stay cold for a couple of days. — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 15 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for perishable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for perishable
  1. fragile
  2. sensitive
  3. delicate
  4. susceptible
  5. vulnerable
Adjective
  • The plant clips feature high-quality waterproof plastic that’s durable but gentle on fragile stems.
    — Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 Sep. 2026
  • As China’s Xi Jinping heads to Washington this week for high-stakes talks, the war in the Mideast and fragile shipping routes keep markets on edge, with analysts warning oil could still soar higher.
    — Aamer Madhani, Los Angeles Times, 20 Sep. 2026
Definition of fragile
Adjective
  • The ability for any app or command to control an endpoint where sensitive user speech is processed is an entirely different matter.
    — Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 21 Sep. 2026
  • Most pressure-sensitive adhesives are based on polymers, long chains of repeating molecular units that become entangled with one another.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of sensitive
Adjective
  • No detail is unaccounted for and no expense is spared, which is The Ritz-Carlton way — evident in touches like the robe’s delicate trim on the pockets and cuffs, fleece lining, embroidery at the chest, and belt made out of the same materials.
    — Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 24 Sep. 2026
  • Ilinčić’s show borrowed the delicate ropes of octogenarian textile artist Françoise Grossen weaving them into dresses, skirts, bags and belts.
    — Hikmat Mohammed, ARTnews.com, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of delicate
Adjective
  • Analysts say until there are clear guidelines on who can regulate prediction markets — possibly from the Supreme Court — DraftKings could be susceptible to headline volatility in the short term.
    — Ananya Chetia, CNBC, 22 Sep. 2026
  • Yet in the twentieth century, when countries around the world prioritized the suppression of all wildfires, many areas became overgrown and susceptible to firestorms.
    — Ingfei Chen, New Yorker, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of susceptible
Adjective
  • The fourth, the Indian rhinoceros, is vulnerable, its habitat shrinking rapidly as fragmented and isolated population groups spread across a shattered landscape littered with invasive plant species poisonous to the animals.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 22 Sep. 2026
  • The storms destroyed sections of a seawall and historic boardwalk in Long Beach, shuttered a long-vulnerable stretch of coastal railway in San Clemente, and further threatened Carlsbad Boulevard, also known as Old Highway 101, in Carlsbad.
    — Grace Toohey, Los Angeles Times, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of vulnerable

Browse Nearby Words

perish
perishable
perished
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Perishable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/perishable. Accessed 25 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of tactile

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Sept. 25
See More

Popular

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
image of the words cracker fly and sale arranged in a triangle with the word fire in the middle
Triple Play Quiz Find the word that pairs with each of the three g...
See All