herbaceous

adjective

her·​ba·​ceous ˌ(h)ər-ˈbā-shəs How to pronounce herbaceous (audio)
1
a
: of, relating to, or having the characteristics of an herb
b
of a stem : having little or no woody tissue and persisting usually for a single growing season
2
: having the texture, color, or appearance of a leaf

Examples of herbaceous in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
For brands, that is a window to launch green, herbaceous and savory profiles that would have felt niche just a few years ago. — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Miami Herald, 6 Oct. 2026 The green is equally luscious in texture, made with chicken thigh and skin, but intensely herbaceous, brightened with parsley, cilantro, poblano and jalapeño. — Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 5 Oct. 2026 Ground sage rounds out the smokiness of the pork with herbaceous, woodsy notes. — Inés Anguiano, Bon Appetit Magazine, 25 Sep. 2026 For herbaceous or Itoh divisions, use the knife to divide the root clump into several pieces, making sure there are three to five eyes and healthy roots in each new part. — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 17 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for herbaceous

Word History

First Known Use

1640, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of herbaceous was in 1640

Phrases Containing herbaceous

Rhymes for herbaceous

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Browse Nearby Words

Herbaceae
herbaceous
herbaceous border
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Cite this Entry

“Herbaceous.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/herbaceous. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

herbaceous

adjective
her·​ba·​ceous ˌ(h)ər-ˈbā-shəs How to pronounce herbaceous (audio)
1
: of, relating to, or resembling an herb
2
: being a stem with little or no woody tissue and lasting usually only for a single growing season
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