moldering 1 of 3

adjective

as in rotting

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moldering

2 of 3

noun

as in fermentation

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Dissimilar Words

moldering

3 of 3

verb

present participle of molder
as in decomposing
to go through decomposition leaves moldering in the compost pile

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 moldering
Verb
No less slippery are his matinée-idol looks, which can turn wolfish or ratty on a dime, as if his beauty were moldering away from within. — Justin Chang, New Yorker, 25 Sep. 2026 Getting the rotting food off racks towering six stories high required hundreds of workers in protective suits to dislodge the moldering food. — Roger Vincent, Los Angeles Times, 17 Sep. 2026 Anna Anosowicz’s highly resourceful production design makes excellent use of existing midcentury brutalist architecture and far more ancient, enduring structures, all moldering under superficially futuristic window-dressing. — Guy Lodge, Variety, 20 Aug. 2026 Developer John Dewberry is responsible for the site, and has a reputation for leaving half-finished, moldering construction projects in his wake. — Aj Willingham, AJC.com, 15 July 2026 The spooky environs created by production designer Til Frohlich are the stuff nightmares are made of; the murky bathtub, moldering linens and secret compartments that go bump in the night. — Katie Walsh, Twin Cities, 2 May 2026 Rolston added that the type of pests a moldering stump can attract aren’t an issue that will necessarily affect that old stump alone—the pest problem can spread. — Steven John, Architectural Digest, 16 Feb. 2026 But then a fresh corpse turns up, as well as a long-moldering skeleton, and the club members are off and running. — Tom Gliatto, People.com, 27 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for moldering
  1. moldy
  2. fermentation
  3. rotting
  4. decaying
  5. crumbling
  6. decomposing
  7. putrescent
  8. disintegration
Adjective
  • While top-loading machines don’t have as many problems with moldy door seals, letting the drum dry when the machine is not in use is still a good idea.
    — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 10 Oct. 2026
  • Once one slice is moldy, the rest of the loaf, and potentially anything nearby, is exposed.
    — Bridget Shirvell, Martha Stewart, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of moldy
Noun
  • Right now yeast fermentation is the standard method of producing heme (as leghemoglobin), but the sterile environment and industrial equipment necessary for manufacturing can be pricey.
    — Lila Magbilang, Scientific American, 12 Oct. 2026
  • Initially, Albala was approached by London imprint Quarto about creating a book on fermentation and whether claims of its health benefits are legitimate.
    — Sean Timberlake, Sacbee.com, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of fermentation
Verb
  • The bacteria comes from a variety of sources, including soil, water, sewage, rotting vegetation and animals, according to the FDA.
    — Eva Flowe October 15, Charlotte Observer, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Deer eating pumpkins can attract mountain lions to your yard, and raccoons feasting on rotting gourds can spread disease.
    — Celia Frazier, Denver Post, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of rotting
Adjective
  • Liberal critics, however, argued—also rightly—that the Soviet Union was a decaying, economically crippled giant by the time Reagan was inaugurated.
    — Tom Nichols, The Atlantic, 14 Aug. 2026
  • The district also could be in for other major changes in the coming years, including the opening of a few new schools to replace multiple decaying, underenrolled schools.
    — Scott Travis, Miami Herald, 15 May 2026
Definition of decaying
Noun
  • Besides preventing mold and mildew, cleaning will also reduce unpleasant odors and prevent cracking and crumbling of your seal.
    — Caroline Lubinsky, Martha Stewart, 6 Sep. 2026
  • The rest of the world is watching the crumbling of America’s economic relationship with its closest trading partner, and an administration that is calling into question the sanctity of free trade agreements generally.
    — Kate Nishimura, Footwear News, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of crumbling
Verb
  • More than two months after authorities found dozens of decomposing bodies inside the South Chicago Chapel on the Far South Side, the Cook County Medical Examiner's office has identified all 55 people whose bodies were found inside the funeral home.
    — Todd Feurer, CBS News, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Over 50 decomposing bodies were discovered earlier in the month at the funeral home and cemetery.
    — Gregory Royal Pratt, Chicago Tribune, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of decomposing
Adjective
  • This putrescent combination of sky-high home prices, rising mortgage rates and stifling consumer inflation have forced all but the wealthiest or most determined buyers out of a new home.
    — Q.ai - Powering a Personal Wealth Movement, Forbes, 17 Aug. 2022
Definition of putrescent
Noun
  • Banquo doesn’t have to do or say a thing to trigger Macbeth’s disintegration.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Conversely, modern concrete is subject to irreversible decay, a form of disintegration owing to its formation as a composite of cement and aggregate materials, such as gravel and sand.
    — Jeffrey Weiss, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of disintegration

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Cite this Entry

“Moldering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/moldering. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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