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
Non-perishable food items for the Christian Food Pantry of Valparaiso are welcome.
—
Post-Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 22 May 2026
If perishable food or beverages are stored for an extended period, pressure can build up and cause the stopper to forcefully eject when the container is opened.
—Francie Ebert, NBC news, 1 May 2026
Always keep your emergency kit stocked with an array of non-perishable foods.
—Louise Parks, Martha Stewart, 1 May 2026
Yet these more perishable materials present a challenge for modern archaeologists.
—Literary Hub, 1 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for perishable
Post-Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 22 May 2026
If perishable food or beverages are stored for an extended period, pressure can build up and cause the stopper to forcefully eject when the container is opened.
—Francie Ebert, NBC news, 1 May 2026
Always keep your emergency kit stocked with an array of non-perishable foods.
—Louise Parks, Martha Stewart, 1 May 2026
Yet these more perishable materials present a challenge for modern archaeologists.
—Literary Hub, 1 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for perishable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for perishable
Adjective
-
In fact, oil and gasoline futures both rebounded on Thursday as new fighting in the Middle East underscores the fragile nature of the ceasefire.—
Kevin Liptak,
CNN Money,
28 May 2026
-
Generating a test, refactoring a fragile selector or maintaining a test suite are the kinds of tasks where AI coding shines.—
Ethan Pronev,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2026
Adjective
-
But in all these cases, unopened soda is shelf-stable and not sensitive to refrigeration cycles.—
Katie Rosenhouse,
Southern Living,
24 May 2026
-
Raw vegetables may preserve nutrients that are sensitive to heat, while cooked vegetables can make others easier to absorb.—
Lynn Andriani,
Martha Stewart,
24 May 2026
Adjective
-
Soursop is a delicate fruit, so it should be handled with care.—
Kirsten Nunez,
Martha Stewart,
28 May 2026
-
Old Grand‑Dad 114 and Redemption push hard into spice, while Four Roses Single Barrel and Small Batch show how yeast and blending can turn the same basic ingredients into something perfumed and almost delicate.—
Joseph V Micallef,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2026
Adjective
-
Potatoes are highly susceptible to pests like the Colorado potato beetle and diseases like late blight that caused the Irish potato famine.—
Nadia Hassani,
The Spruce,
23 May 2026
-
Older ligustrum trees become susceptible to what pathologist call cankers.—
Tom MacCubbin,
The Orlando Sentinel,
23 May 2026
Adjective
-
Abnormally warm waters in the Atlantic raise the risk that at least one very large, destructive hurricane will form, potentially threatening the tens of millions of people living in areas vulnerable to flooding, wind damage and coastal storm surges.—
Brittney Melton,
NPR,
22 May 2026
-
The poorest three billion people, who contributed least to the crisis yet remain most vulnerable to its consequences, must move closer to the center of climate decision-making.—
Ingmar Rentzhog,
Forbes.com,
22 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Perishable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/perishable. Accessed 30 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
