ripe

adjective

ˈrīp How to pronounce ripe (audio)
Definition of ripenext
1
as in matured
fully grown or developed a ripe tomato

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in stinking
having an unpleasant smell the clothes of the field hands were sweaty and ripe after a hard day's work

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 ripe On top of that, supporting developing fruit requires a lot of energy and moisture from plants, and leaving ripe fruit on plants too long can make plants more stressed and vulnerable to drying out. — Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 June 2026 The 2019 has aromas of licorice, cassis, black raspberry, cedar, and mocha with silky tannins and flavors of sweet baking spices, ripe dark fruits, and a touch of dark chocolate in the finish. — Mike Desimone, Robb Report, 26 June 2026 Wind gusts of up to 40 mph are forecast across the fire-danger zones, and relative humidity is expected to fall between 8% and 15%, meaning conditions are ripe for any new fires to rapidly spread. — Bill Hutchinson, ABC News, 30 June 2026 Not only is Earth's closest celestial neighbor a pristine time capsule ripe for study – preserved almost unaltered throughout the course of billions of years – but the moon is viewed as a stepping stone for human exploration deeper into the cosmos. — Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 1 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for ripe
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ripe
  1. matured
  2. stinking
  3. mature
  4. foul
  5. strong
  6. rotted
  7. rotten
  8. disgusting
Adjective
  • Think of this as the matured version of the Kool-Aid dip-dye technique.
    — Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 7 Nov. 2025
Definition of matured
Adjective
  • America’s political landscape has become a stinking mess.
    — Mary Ellen Klas, Boston Herald, 1 June 2026
  • America’s political landscape has become a stinking mess.
    — Mary Ellen Klas, Mercury News, 26 May 2026
Definition of stinking
Adjective
  • That mature approach was built during Conwell’s four-year college career.
    — Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 4 July 2026
  • Their relationship feels more mature, a bit deeper, and real.
    — Angelique Brenes, PEOPLE, 3 July 2026
Definition of mature
Adjective
  • Human remains were found in the chimney of a public school in Queens, New York, on Tuesday morning while officials were investigating a foul odor, according to police.
    — Landon Mion, FOXNews.com, 1 July 2026
  • While some of the Dutch pleaded for a foul, Gakpo raced in to score on the rebound.
    — Andrew Greif, NBC news, 30 June 2026
Definition of foul
Adjective
  • Beyond California, scientists are raising alarms over the planet’s warming oceans, which — coupled with a strong El Niño — could increase temperatures for land dwellers in the coming weeks.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026
  • Weather aside, Fall/Winter 2026 Haute Couture Week, running from July 6 to 9, will feature shows from 30 houses, compared with FW25’s 27-strong line-up.
    — Laure Guilbault, Vogue, 6 July 2026
Definition of strong
Adjective
  • Inspect fences and perform any repairs or maintenance, such as reinforcing posts or replacing rotted sections.
    — BestReviews, Chicago Tribune, 8 June 2026
  • Many grapes become too rotted and are left to wither away.
    — John Mariani, Forbes.com, 23 Jan. 2026
Definition of rotted
Adjective
  • But Reddick shouldn’t yet be counted out because his recent downturn is more due to rotten luck than substandard performance.
    — Jess Bryant, New York Times, 4 July 2026
  • Unashamed about its unoriginality, the movie debuted in May last year to a 'rotten' rating by critics and audiences alike on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes.
    — Caroline Reid, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026
Definition of rotten
Adjective
  • Noah Kahan is speaking out about a disgusting habit picked up by some music fans.
    — Taijuan Moorman, USA Today, 29 June 2026
  • French broadcaster French Pierron was under fire for calling childbirth 'a disgusting moment.
    — Emlyn Travis, Entertainment Weekly, 22 June 2026
Definition of disgusting

Browse Nearby Words

rip
ripe
ripen
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Cite this Entry

“Ripe.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ripe. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on ripe

Nglish: Translation of ripe for Spanish Speakers

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