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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

dry

2 of 3

verb

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

dry

3 of 3

noun

as in prohibitionist

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

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
The power plant, which boasts five valves per cylinder, titanium connecting rods, and dry sump lubrication, produces 513 hp and 347 ft lbs of torque. — Howard Walker, Robb Report, 21 Oct. 2026 Gobaob Spring, where black rhinos and many other species gather to drink in the dry season. — Samantha Falewée, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 Oct. 2026
Verb
After washing, dry the towels well in the dryer, avoiding fabric softener dryer sheets. — Jolie Kerr, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 Oct. 2026 Some of these sand columns broke as they were being removed from the molds or while cutting them into pieces after the drying procedure. — Muskan Bhatia, Interesting Engineering, 19 Oct. 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
  • But exactly who on this roster can replace him if an O-line-thirsty franchise [Kansas City, the Los Angeles Chargers] makes an offer the Dolphins can’t refuse?
    — Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 23 Oct. 2026
  • These problems will likely only get worse over the next few decades, with thirsty parts of the state increasingly wanting to supply their regions with water from areas with more supply.
    — Lexi Salazar, CBS News, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of thirsty
Adjective
  • Let’s start with tracking Savu, where, because of the tiny tribes, the most obvious and boring thing ends up happening.
    — Brian Moylan, Vulture, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Smith is betting that in a market where every phone looks the same, the bigger risk is being boring.
    — Sam Birchall, Fortune, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of boring
Adjective
  • The exterior entry and upper-level access of the detached, two-story guesthouse.
    — Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 20 Oct. 2026
  • Goldfish centers on a 17-year-old high school senior who presents as detached, ironic and emotionally armored, but underneath is quietly paralyzed by fear of failure, abandonment and becoming his parents.
    — Matt Grobar, Deadline, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of detached
Verb
  • Unprecedented high temperatures scorched the continent from late May until the end of August this year.
    — Laura Paddison, CNN Money, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Its advanced technology generates precise light pulses that cut through delicate materials such as computer chips and human tissue without scorching surrounding tissue.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of scorch
Verb
  • That terrible scenario that doesn't easily fade definitely caused everyone to believe Quinn was at it again on Monday night – messing up again, forgetting that the last play was fourth down instead of third down.
    — Armando Salguero OutKick, FOXNews.com, 20 Oct. 2026
  • Yet, in the urban South, recent linguistic research finds that the drawl’s most salient features are starting to fade on the lips of young speakers.
    — Valerie M. Fridland, The Conversation, 20 Oct. 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
  • For starters, Lanai has more Cook pine trees than palms, and looks almost arid in many places, with red dirt roads and scrubby brush.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Water Sources Swimming pools, landscaping ponds, and similar bodies of water can act as an attractant for snakes, especially in more arid areas, says Mackessy.
    — Michelle Mastro, Martha Stewart, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of arid
Adjective
  • The song develops into a slow-burn, lighters-up jam, its long, unhurried coda like getting lost in a sea of echoing, overlapping memories.
    — Dash Lewis, Pitchfork, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Protein and fiber slow digestion, supporting satiety and healthy blood sugar regulation.
    — Jillian Kubala, HEALTH, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of slow

Phrases Containing dry

Browse Nearby Words

druthers
dry
dryad
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Dry.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dry. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of milieu

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Why do we 'bury the lede?'

'Za' and 9 Other Words to Help You Win at SCRABBLE
See More

Popular

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
different halloween monsters in silhouette
A Monstrous Vocab Quiz Words That Go Bump in the Night
See All