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 Like many food industries, Cauldron Ice Cream faces the challenge of perishable ingredients. — Chloe Dao, Mercury News, 29 June 2026 In Colombia, home to the largest Venezuelan population abroad, hundreds of people have turned up at community centers to donate non-perishable food, hygiene products, clothing, and even pet supplies. — Manuel Rueda, NPR, 27 June 2026 Because this recipe calls for mayonnaise and dairy, both of which are very perishable, it shouldn't be left at room temperature for longer than two hours, or one hour on a very warm day. — Martha Stewart, 26 June 2026 Demand is unpredictable; supply is often perishable; and every decision carries consequences for human lives. — Tina Vatanka Murphy, Forbes.com, 25 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
  • The autonomous coding tool can send sensitive information to a remote server without a user’s consent, the statement said in Chinese, according to a CNBC translation.
    — Evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 8 July 2026
  • The officials spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the possible crash.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 8 July 2026
Definition of sensitive
Adjective
  • Their wide silhouette creates an interesting contrast with the delicate shape of a granny blouse.
    — René Chávez Esparza, Glamour, 9 July 2026
  • Satellites perform a delicate dance to maintain their orbit, by locking themselves to a speed just fast enough to counteract the downward pull of gravity.
    — Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 9 July 2026
Definition of delicate
Adjective
  • Creamer of the Fresh Fruit Association said the state food and agriculture department’s lagging pest and disease prevention funding makes the state more susceptible to the kinds of incidents that happened recently.
    — Lizzie Kane July 9, Sacbee.com, 9 July 2026
  • Infections, other immune-system stressors and, more rarely, brain injuries may also contribute in genetically susceptible individuals.
    — Daryl Austin, USA Today, 8 July 2026
Definition of susceptible
Adjective
  • His opposition to the measure in California could still leave him vulnerable to criticism from progressives in a national Democratic primary.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2026
  • However, that is changing as the US Department of Defense seeks more robust, less vulnerable power systems for military satellites that are less hazardous than the older spacecraft powered by uranium and plutonium.
    — David Szondy July 07, New Atlas, 8 July 2026
Definition of vulnerable

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Cite this Entry

“Perishable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/perishable. Accessed 11 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on perishable

Nglish: Translation of perishable for Spanish Speakers

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