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.

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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 perishable Spinach Spinach is highly perishable and begins losing nutrients soon after harvest. — Anna Giorgi, Verywell Health, 2 July 2026 Emptying all the food scraps into the trash can and putting away any leftovers and perishable goods, Buchanan says. — Sarah Lyon, The Spruce, 2 July 2026 Rows of cars have remained lined up at the Global Empowerment Mission (GEM) in Doral, where volunteers are collecting donations of non-perishable food, tents, and diapers to send to the disaster zone. — Manuel Bojorquez, CBS News, 1 July 2026 Like many food industries, Cauldron Ice Cream faces the challenge of perishable ingredients. — Chloe Dao, Mercury News, 29 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for perishable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for perishable
  1. fragile
  2. sensitive
  3. delicate
  4. susceptible
  5. vulnerable
Adjective
  • Meanwhile Karl Lagerfeld designed exquisite Weimar Kabaret-ish costumes (these ultimately proved too fragile to attach Madonna's monitoring system to.
    — Hamish Bowles, Vogue, 5 July 2026
  • Gas prices ease as economic anxiety lingers Gas prices have dropped sharply in the weeks since the fragile ceasefire between the United States and Iran, surprising analysts who had warned drivers could be in for a summer of soaring fuel costs.
    — David Sivak, The Washington Examiner, 4 July 2026
Definition of fragile
Adjective
  • High levels of fine particulate matter in the air from wildfire smoke may be unhealthy for sensitive groups, such as children and people with heart or lung conditions.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 15 July 2026
  • Right on the heels of Microsoft releasing a record number of security patches, a researcher has published exploit code that can enable low-privilege Windows accounts to make sensitive changes to administrator accounts.
    — Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 15 July 2026
Definition of sensitive
Adjective
  • For jewelry, a delicate gold watch, earrings, plus her Jessica McCormack engagement ring and wedding band.
    — Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 17 July 2026
  • Trump has made several announcements throughout the Iran war about the state of the crucial oil-shipping strait and the delicate ceasefire agreement on Truth Social that have affected financial markets and moved the price of oil.
    — Molly Parks, The Washington Examiner, 16 July 2026
Definition of delicate
Adjective
  • Each saw human nature as susceptible to corruption by base impulses and self-interest.
    — Donovan Fifield, The Conversation, 16 July 2026
  • FODMAPs get fermented by colonic bacteria, producing gas and causing bloating and other gastrointestinal symptoms in susceptible individuals.
    — Anna Giorgi, Verywell Health, 15 July 2026
Definition of susceptible
Adjective
  • Unlike wealthy nations with the reserves and infrastructure to buffer the crisis in the Strait of Hormuz, import-dependent economies are more vulnerable to immediate, cascading supply chain shocks.
    — Sophia Saifi, CNN Money, 16 July 2026
  • Adopted by the Atlanta City Council this spring, the initiative offers a framework to hold the city accountable for protecting workers’ rights and address the needs of vulnerable populations, among other goals, during World Cup games.
    — DeAsia Paige, AJC.com, 15 July 2026
Definition of vulnerable

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perishable
perished
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Cite this Entry

“Perishable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/perishable. Accessed 17 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on perishable

Nglish: Translation of perishable for Spanish Speakers

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