ripe

adjective

ˈrīp How to pronounce ripe (audio)
Definition of ripenext
1
as in matured
fully grown or developed a ripe tomato

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in stinking
having an unpleasant smell the clothes of the field hands were sweaty and ripe after a hard day's work

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 ripe Similar to lemon curd, though not as tart, peach curd transforms ripe peaches into a silky spread with a rich, buttery texture and bright fruit flavor. — Monti Carlo, AJC.com, 10 July 2026 Everything about the professional game—the way it’s played, structured, and consumed—seems ripe for transformation. — Josh Levin, The Atlantic, 9 July 2026 Water brings notes of red grape skins, ripe peach, vanilla, allspice and wood smoke. — Chris Perugini, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026 Sweet, juicy, ripe fruits make July and August a bit easier to bear. — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 6 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for ripe
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ripe
  1. matured
  2. stinking
  3. mature
  4. foul
  5. strong
  6. rotted
  7. rotten
  8. disgusting
Adjective
  • Think of this as the matured version of the Kool-Aid dip-dye technique.
    — Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 7 Nov. 2025
Definition of matured
Adjective
  • America’s political landscape has become a stinking mess.
    — Mary Ellen Klas, Boston Herald, 1 June 2026
  • America’s political landscape has become a stinking mess.
    — Mary Ellen Klas, Mercury News, 26 May 2026
Definition of stinking
Adjective
  • From the street, only glimpses of hand-cut sandstone and a low jade-green roof emerge behind mature gardens.
    — Natalie Hoberman, Forbes.com, 18 July 2026
  • Yes, even these guys are obviously mature for their ages, there’s a pretty significant difference just in terms of frame, body weight.
    — Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 18 July 2026
Definition of mature
Adjective
  • Donis said multiple people reached out with complaints of a foul smell emanating from the river.
    — Jireh Deng, Los Angeles Times, 13 July 2026
  • Once opened, check for foul odors, cloudiness, or spurting liquid when opening.
    — Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 13 July 2026
Definition of foul
Adjective
  • After a strong start to the tournament, the reigning champions teetered on the brink of elimination throughout the knockout stage, trailing Egypt and England until the closing stages, needing extra time to overcome Cape Verde and Switzerland.
    — Oliver Kay, New York Times, 20 July 2026
  • The incoming prime minister grew up in the northwest of England, a part of the country where the Catholic Church has traditionally had a strong presence, and his outlook has been shaped by Catholic teaching.
    — Hanna Ziady, CNN Money, 20 July 2026
Definition of strong
Adjective
  • Inspect fences and perform any repairs or maintenance, such as reinforcing posts or replacing rotted sections.
    — BestReviews, Chicago Tribune, 8 June 2026
  • Many grapes become too rotted and are left to wither away.
    — John Mariani, Forbes.com, 23 Jan. 2026
Definition of rotted
Adjective
  • The family trees here have a lot of branches and some of them are a bit rotten.
    — Randy Myers, Mercury News, 16 July 2026
  • The place to really advance the argument that something is rotten with elections is in the states, where officials have actual authority over the ballots, the drop boxes, the voting machines—the building blocks of elections.
    — Hanna Rosin, The Atlantic, 16 July 2026
Definition of rotten
Adjective
  • Deer-Proof Your Garden To keep your flowers from being gobbled up by deer—one of the most heartbreaking of all garden misfortunes—choose flowers that people find glorious and deer find disgusting.
    — Mary Alice Russell, Southern Living, 13 July 2026
  • Where critics see disgusting piles of stuff, hoarders see more.
    — Shivali H. Patra, Mercury News, 8 July 2026
Definition of disgusting

Browse Nearby Words

rip
ripe
ripen
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Cite this Entry

“Ripe.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ripe. Accessed 21 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on ripe

Nglish: Translation of ripe for Spanish Speakers

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