How to Use oxidize in a Sentence

oxidize

verb
  • The paint oxidizes and discolors rapidly.
  • The leaves must be smashed and not chopped for fear the blade of a knife will over-oxidize them.
    — Thessaly La Force, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 Dec. 2024
  • The paint on the famous flip-up front clip’s hood is oxidized.
    — Davey G. Johnson, Car and Driver, 3 Nov. 2017
  • As the wine pulls through the spout, the wine opens up and slightly oxidizes.
    — Andrew Watman, Forbes, 6 Dec. 2024
  • Black tea is made from tea leaves that are picked, allowed to oxidize, and then dried.
    — Dallas News, 18 Jan. 2023
  • Like green tea, the white tea leaves are not oxidized, which allows for a lighter brew.
    — Lauren Manaker Ms, Rdn, Ld, Verywell Health, 20 Mar. 2023
  • The potatoes will oxidize, so be sure to shred right before use.
    — Kate Bradshaw, The Mercury News, 15 Apr. 2024
  • But as soon as the bottle is opened, the message inside starts to oxidize and change.
    — Washington Post, 26 Aug. 2019
  • Once exposed to air the flesh begins to oxidize and will darken.
    — Sue Selasky, Detroit Free Press, 1 Aug. 2021
  • More fat has the potential to oxidize and spoil more rapidly.
    — Jack Hennessy, Outdoor Life, 4 Jan. 2021
  • The leaves are left to oxidize just slightly before being dried.
    — Dallas News, 18 Jan. 2023
  • Her first try, with cayuga, a white hybrid grape, did not turn out well as the juice oxidized in the heat of her garage.
    — Eric Asimov, New York Times, 19 Oct. 2023
  • Cover the jar with a coffee filter instead of a lid so the drink will oxidize.
    — Cole Wilson, Popular Mechanics, 24 Apr. 2020
  • Smoke point is the temperature at which the fat begins to break down and oxidize.
    — NBC News, 24 July 2019
  • Bags of flour will oxidize or become stale enough to affect the flavor of your homemade bread.
    — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 16 Jan. 2025
  • Therefore, the oil and dead skin does not oxidize, giving it a white appearance.
    — Sabrina Talbert, Women's Health, 17 June 2023
  • The fire also oxidized iron objects like hinges, ax heads and doors, which normally rust away over time.
    — Jason Daley, Smithsonian, 3 Aug. 2017
  • The magnets allow for a better grip on the screw, and the black tips mean they’ve been oxidized for better strength.
    — Barbara Bellesi Zito, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 Mar. 2023
  • Sesame seeds, flaxseeds, and chia seeds all contain oils that oxidize and turn rancid faster in warm conditions.
    — Anne Wolf, Martha Stewart, 1 July 2026
  • Exposed to the outside air, an in-joke or a funny anecdote can oxidize into shame or racist ridicule.
    — Zoë Hu, The Atlantic, 3 Aug. 2021
  • For tough-to-reach crevices, use a toothbrush or cotton swabs to remove surface oils, dirt, and oxidized spots.
    — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 16 Sep. 2025
  • An expired perfume will have a slightly sour, metallic smell once the top notes have begun to oxidize.
    — Joseph Deacetis, Forbes, 23 Jan. 2022
  • Wine begins to oxidize the second a bottle is opened, and a stopper can go a long way in slowing down that process.
    — Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 24 Dec. 2024
  • But the wax worm saliva enzymes were able to oxidize plastic in just a few hours—without any pre-treatment.
    — Jacquelyne Germain, Smithsonian Magazine, 7 Oct. 2022
  • This step is important because residue from the stain remover can oxidize over time, leaving a stain of its own.
    — Jolie Kerr, Better Homes & Gardens, 30 July 2024
  • At the other end of the spectrum, black tea leaves are fully oxidized, changing hue from green to a darker brown.
    — Charlene Wang De Chen, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 Oct. 2023
  • What's more, the oxidizing process would simply start again, and the entire structure would turn green again in a few short years.
    — Theo Burman, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Sep. 2025
  • The skunk bath recipe works by oxidizing the thiols into compounds called disulfides, which are not so smelly.
    — Janine M. Kahn, Good Housekeeping, 10 July 2017
  • Aumont finished the job by oxidizing standard wire to faux-age it, then reattached the new glass gems with the wire.
    — Sherise Dor, ELLE Decor, 5 July 2012
  • Staff can explain details like how the shape of a tea leaf and the length of time that it was oxidized affect its flavor profile.
    — Jessica Gelt, Los Angeles Times, 17 May 2023

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'oxidize.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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