mold 1 of 2

noun

Definition of moldnext
as in soil
the loose surface material in which plants naturally grow mold so rich that just about anything will grow in it

Synonyms & Similar Words

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mold

2 of 2

verb

as in to decompose
to go through decomposition plants molding in the abandoned garden

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 mold
Noun
Guadagnino and screenwriter Simon Rich mold the material from dark humor through technocratic giddiness to sobering horror. — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 6 Oct. 2026 The trio would sit in their living room and talk about becoming a future staff in the same mold as Kingsbury’s. — Sam Jane, Denver Post, 4 Oct. 2026
Verb
An omakase meal at Morihiro taught me that the rice is actually the most important part of any sushi experience, and no one molds it with it as much panache as chef Morihiro Onodera. — Daniel Hernandez, Los Angeles Times, 14 Sep. 2026 Since then, the shoes have continued to mold to my feet with each wear. — Annie Blackman, InStyle, 12 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for mold
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mold
  1. soil
  2. decompose
  3. dirt
  4. rot
  5. ground
  6. disintegrate
  7. sand
  8. decay
Noun
  • In Richard’s hands, Creole culture is rooted and migrant, soil and air.
    — Stephen Kearse, Pitchfork, 9 Oct. 2026
  • The footpad cannot extract energy from chemically inert surfaces such as plastic, glass, soil, or organic tissue, prompting the team to add a small onboard supercapacitor to buffer power across dead zones.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of soil
Verb
  • The evolution of land plants and the development of soil go hand in hand—as these pioneering plants, trees, and animals died and their decomposing remains were recycled on land, by fungi and the first soil invertebrates, modern soils began to form.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Even poor Maggie the cat — the only living animal in Digger’s house and possibly one of the last living animals in the world — is decomposing in his arms, his sister (Sandra Hüller) says with a shudder.
    — Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of decompose
Noun
  • Shane Smith is known for being the lead singer of Shane Smith & The Saints, which is a country band whose music has heavy influences of red dirt and Americana.
    — David Hookstead OutKick, FOXNews.com, 8 Oct. 2026
  • With the first movement of dirt, this mammoth project is finally underway.
    — Andy Sheehan, CBS News, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of dirt
Verb
  • Holly Bullard, chief strategy and development officer of the left-leaning Florida Policy Institute, says Florida’s policies have left traditional schools to rot.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 2 Oct. 2026
  • But these two things at a certain time of year, because in the summer, the cottage cheese would rot, and the eggs would spoil.
    — Stephanie Nolasco, FOXNews.com, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of rot
Noun
  • Pollinators and birds have found a welcoming haven here, is a spot that was previously barren, rocky ground.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
  • By mid-2013, mass disillusionment with the Brotherhood provided fertile ground for a military comeback.
    — Abdelrahman ElGendy, Time, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of ground
Verb
  • Studying an intact oarfish is remarkably difficult because their bodies typically disintegrate into brittle segments upon death.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 1 Oct. 2026
  • The white outer layer started to disintegrate before the audience’s eyes, eventually washing away to reveal a fire-red corseted bodysuit and miniskirt underneath—a pleasingly literal interpretation of the tour’s title.
    — Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 26 Sep. 2026
Definition of disintegrate
Noun
  • Outside, Casa Marina’s 1,100 feet of private beach, lined with loungers and framed by two piers, is the most coveted slice of sand on the island—a true beach scene in a town where rocky shores are the norm.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Oct. 2026
  • On Monday, workers hauled out a 200-pound piece of equipment that was ruined by the saltwater and sand carried in on the high tides.
    — Alex Harris, Miami Herald, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of sand
Verb
  • Wrens, chickadees, titmice, thrushes and nuthatches all forage either through the leaf canopy or the slowly decaying ground litter for beetles, caterpillars, spiders, ants and other insects.
    — Karen Hugg, Washington Post, 11 Oct. 2026
  • Although a horrifying sea creature sits at the center of the show, this story is about a man desperate to cling to a decaying past, a grieving family and how greed can create monsters.
    — Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of decay

Browse Nearby Words

mokes
mold
moldable
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Mold.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mold. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on mold

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about mold

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