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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Recent Examples of perishable
The White House will likely have to partner with companies that have experience shipping perishable items to remote areas of the country.
—
Nicholas Florko, The Atlantic, 20 Aug. 2025
Last week, the Associated Press reported, Amazon announced last Wednesday an expansion of its perishable delivery service that will reach more than 1,000 cities in towns that will have access to fresh groceries with its free same-day delivery, with plans to reach over 2,300 by the end of the year.
—Sean Krofssik, Hartford Courant, 19 Aug. 2025
Among the top 10 perishable grocery items for the e-commerce giant’s same day delivery carts are honey crisp apples, limes and avocados.
—Susan Selasky, Freep.com, 14 Aug. 2025
What if money was a perishable good, like a sack of potatoes — or a daily newspaper?
—Big Think, 14 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for perishable
Nicholas Florko, The Atlantic, 20 Aug. 2025
Last week, the Associated Press reported, Amazon announced last Wednesday an expansion of its perishable delivery service that will reach more than 1,000 cities in towns that will have access to fresh groceries with its free same-day delivery, with plans to reach over 2,300 by the end of the year.
—Sean Krofssik, Hartford Courant, 19 Aug. 2025
Among the top 10 perishable grocery items for the e-commerce giant’s same day delivery carts are honey crisp apples, limes and avocados.
—Susan Selasky, Freep.com, 14 Aug. 2025
What if money was a perishable good, like a sack of potatoes — or a daily newspaper?
—Big Think, 14 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for perishable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for perishable
Adjective
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The institutions of the new democracy were fragile, and the military still wielded enough influence to block meaningful accountability.—
Julia Vargas Jones,
CNN Money,
12 Sep. 2025
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The gown has since become too fragile to showcase and doesn’t leave the museum.—
Ariana Quihuiz,
PEOPLE,
12 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Formulated without alcohol or hydrogen peroxide, the TheraBreath Whitening Fresh Breath Oral Rinse uses glucose oxidase and enzymes called papain to help break up stains and kill bad-breath-causing bacteria—all without aggravating sensitive teeth and gums.—
Sophia Panych,
Allure,
16 Sep. 2025
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Organizations are increasingly relying on AI to handle the initial assessment load, especially in high-volume or compliance-sensitive hiring scenarios.—
Aaron Dhaliwal,
Forbes.com,
16 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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At breakfast, expect Okinawan-style waffles with sweet red beans, Vietnamese pho, and delicate local tofu.—
Kaila Yu,
Forbes.com,
12 Sep. 2025
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The rising sun turned the snow a delicate pink, and beads of frost glittered like diamonds on the trees.—
Jack Atcheson Sr. as told to Michael Hanback,
Outdoor Life,
11 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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The largest member of the grass family, bamboo is combustible, susceptible to deterioration and weaker in rain, raising legitimate questions about its durability, Arup’s Ho said.—
Karina Tsui,
CNN Money,
10 Sep. 2025
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Those are straightforward power rushes designed to contain mobile quarterbacks rather than spamming exotic pressure looks that could leave the defensive line susceptible to holes.—
Matt Schneidman,
New York Times,
10 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Crops such as rice and soybeans are also vulnerable as excessive UV-B can reduce yields and threaten food security.—
Dianne Plummer,
Forbes.com,
16 Sep. 2025
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Advertisement This granular knowledge and deep curiosity is also what drives Speer’s long-standing dedication to protecting the vast, vulnerable open ocean and deep-sea environments that lie outside of national borders and hold some of the largest reservoirs of biodiversity on earth.—
Bonnie Tsui,
Time,
15 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Perishable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/perishable. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.
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