dry 1 of 3

adjective

ˈdrī How to pronounce dry (audio)
Definition of drynext
1
as in thirsty
marked by little or no precipitation or humidity the dry climate of the American Southwest

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2
as in boring
causing weariness, restlessness, or lack of interest a very dry topic for a lecture at a museum of natural history

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in detached
having or showing a lack of friendliness or interest in others a dry temperament that suited him well in a desk job that required no interaction with the customers

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dry

2 of 3

verb

1
as in to scorch
to make dry the wind quickly dried their clothes

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2
as in to fade
to lose liveliness, force, or freshness his creative talents were just drying on the vine in that small, provincial town

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dry

3 of 3

noun

as in prohibitionist

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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 dry
Adjective
No sweating, throbbing headache and skin that’s hot, red and dry are signs of heatstroke. — Lina Ruiz, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 Aug. 2026 Away from both sides of the road stretched rocky plains, dry and gray as parchment. — Leslie E. Tassell, Outdoor Life, 27 Aug. 2026
Verb
The Audi pair almost had a similar problem when Gabriel Bortoleto spun on a greasy but drying track that also caught out and wrecked Verstappen on the opening lap. — Jonathan M. Gitlin, ArsTechnica, 24 Aug. 2026 Sun dried tomatoes and oregano lighten the savory meat while fresh Parmigiano-Reggiano add a nuttiness that all melts together in the pan. — Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 24 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for dry
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dry
  1. thirsty
  2. boring
  3. detached
  4. scorch
  5. fade
  6. prohibitionist
  7. arid
  8. slow
Adjective
  • If anyone in your party is thirsty, the Joe Klass Water Stop is nearby.
    — Jaclyn Cosgrove, Los Angeles Times, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Add the cost of tires, consumables, a thirsty engine, and the fact that cars are all so ludicrously expensive to begin with these days, and soon the whole thing starts to look unsustainable.
    — Jonathan M. Gitlin, ArsTechnica, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of thirsty
Adjective
  • When talking about the Gerhardt brothers, Hudson, a quarterback, and Bailen, a receiver, first-year Village Christian coach Rand Holdren says there’s never a boring moment when the two are together.
    — Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Everton have finished 13th, in the boring but comfortable reassurance of mid-table, in each of the past two seasons.
    — Patrick Boyland, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of boring
Adjective
  • The former Feyenoord boss stood accused of being too detached from the local fanbase.
    — James Pearce, New York Times, 23 Aug. 2026
  • Supervisors also supported language that would allow detached guest houses to be used as vacation rentals.
    — Haley Parsley August 20, Sacbee.com, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of detached
Verb
  • While blistering heat continues to scorch much of the nation's southern tier, the Midwest and Northeast are enjoying a brief fall preview.
    — Doyle Rice, USA Today, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Rémi Lecoutre, deputy head gardener at the Claude Monet House and Gardens museum, gave France 24 a tour, which revealed the nasturtiums to be completely wiped out; many other flowers appeared scorched or dead.
    — News Desk, Artforum, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of scorch
Verb
  • Bitcoin has been in a prolonged slump since October, and BTIG noted that a similar surge in January 2023 initially faded before the cryptocurrency found support around its 200-day moving average.
    — Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 25 Aug. 2026
  • The crimson hue that may have been visible at the height of the eclipse will gradually fade as the crescent of the lunar disk exposed to direct sunlight grows, and normality reasserts itself over the natural satellite.
    — Anthony Wood, Space.com, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of fade
Noun
  • Build Guardrails Before You Press Record Walker’s advice is pragmatic, not prohibitionist.
    — Tim Bajarin, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Despite chang’s antiquity, Tibetans have their share of teetotalers and prohibitionists.
    — Geoff Childs, The Conversation, 1 May 2026
Definition of prohibitionist
Adjective
  • Our team determined that lakes persisted for millions of years before the climate became arid and sand dunes overtook the lakes, although groundwater occasionally breached the surface to produce streams that wove among the dunes.
    — Ashwin R. Vasavada, The Conversation, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Since 2022, Dava has turned to hydroponic farming in a plot of land in Al Kharj, an arid area with nutrient-rich soil known for its date palms.
    — Taylor Luck, Christian Science Monitor, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of arid
Adjective
  • Reseeding helps block weed growth, repel lawn diseases, slow soil erosion, and strengthen growth in bare patches.
    — Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Critical thinking is based on the need for a deliberate, slow, self-regulatory pause.
    — Ted Ladd, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of slow

Phrases Containing dry

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druthers
dry
dryad
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Cite this Entry

“Dry.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dry. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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