dry-rotted; dry-rotting; dry-rots
: to affect with dry rot
: to become affected with dry rot
1
a
: a decay of seasoned timber caused by fungi that consume the cellulose of wood leaving a soft skeleton which is readily reduced to powder
b
: a fungal rot of plant tissue in which the affected areas are dry and often firmer than normal or more or less mummified
2
: a fungus causing dry rot
3
: decay from within caused especially by resistance to new forces
Examples of dry-rot in a Sentence
Noun
The windowsill was badly damaged by dry rot.
Dry rot had eaten away part of the beam.
Recent Examples on the Web
Joelle Diderich, Footwear News, 28 June 2025
The project underway at the Adult Softball Complex began with demolishing a set of stairs outside the 800-square-foot building because of dry rot.
—Julie Gallant, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Feb. 2025
To prevent dry rot, experts from Stone & Clark recommend:
Storing shoes in a cool, dry place.
—Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 17 Feb. 2025
Wipers can dry rot, and the rubber becomes hard and brittle.
—Hayleigh Evans, The Arizona Republic, 7 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for dry-rot
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Noun
Ravaged by dry rot, entire sections of the building were taken apart stone by stone and rebuilt.
—Joelle Diderich, Footwear News, 28 June 2025
The project underway at the Adult Softball Complex began with demolishing a set of stairs outside the 800-square-foot building because of dry rot.
—Julie Gallant, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Feb. 2025
To prevent dry rot, experts from Stone & Clark recommend:
Storing shoes in a cool, dry place.
—Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 17 Feb. 2025
Wipers can dry rot, and the rubber becomes hard and brittle.
—Hayleigh Evans, The Arizona Republic, 7 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for dry-rot
Cite this Entry
“Dry-rot.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dry-rot. Accessed 3 Nov. 2025.
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