molder
1 of 2verb
mold·er ˈmōl-dər 
moldered; moldering ˈmōl-d(ə-)riŋ ; molders
; molders intransitive verb
: to crumble into particles : disintegrate, decay
molder
2 of 2noun
mold·er ˈmōl-dər
plural molders
: one that molds something or someone
a molder of minds
an iron molder
… the house and home as both a reflection and a molder of the people who live there.
Laurie Graham
Laurie Graham especially : one that exerts a determining influence on an attitude or course of development
… seems to have slipped almost effortlessly into his newly acquired role as a molder of world events. Molly Moore
Molly Moore … key opinion molders in Congress and the U.S. media … Michel Oksenberg
Michel Oksenberg 
Synonyms
Verb
- break down
- corrupt
- decay
- decompose
- disintegrate
- fester
- foul
- mold
- perish [chiefly British]
- putrefy
- rot
- spoil
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Verb leaves moldering in the compost pile
Recent Examples on the Web Jim Williams, Star Tribune, 2 Feb. 2021 The antic Schwitters, by contrast, barks like a dog, sleeps in a basket and, for lack of better material, makes sculptures out of porridge that then molder and turn green. Peter Saenger, WSJ, 25 Sep. 2020 Reeling from decades of decline, the area was a patchwork of potholed streets, weeded lots, moldering homes and drive-thru liquor marts. Desperation Town, ProPublica, 11 May 2020 Quarantine — forced isolation — has left people moldering. Brian T. Allen, National Review, 2 May 2020 But the scale of the land deal at Dara Sakor — which secures 20 percent of Cambodia’s coastline for 99 years — has raised eyebrows, especially since the portion of the project built so far is already moldering in malarial jungle. New York Times, 22 Dec. 2019 Weariness was in the air, along with the smell of sweat, urine and moldering trash. Los Angeles Times, 15 Aug. 2019 But the Alvarado was torn down in 1970, and other Harvey Houses, like the Castañeda, were moved, repurposed or left to molder. Susan Spano, Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2019 Millions of documents were burned; millions more were left soaking wet, and soon began to molder in the muggy Missouri heat. New York Times, 5 June 2019 See More
Verb
This is more important in warm weather when wet seeds can molder. Jim Williams, Star Tribune, 2 Feb. 2021 The antic Schwitters, by contrast, barks like a dog, sleeps in a basket and, for lack of better material, makes sculptures out of porridge that then molder and turn green. Peter Saenger, WSJ, 25 Sep. 2020 Reeling from decades of decline, the area was a patchwork of potholed streets, weeded lots, moldering homes and drive-thru liquor marts. Desperation Town, ProPublica, 11 May 2020 Quarantine — forced isolation — has left people moldering. Brian T. Allen, National Review, 2 May 2020 But the scale of the land deal at Dara Sakor — which secures 20 percent of Cambodia’s coastline for 99 years — has raised eyebrows, especially since the portion of the project built so far is already moldering in malarial jungle. New York Times, 22 Dec. 2019 Weariness was in the air, along with the smell of sweat, urine and moldering trash. Los Angeles Times, 15 Aug. 2019 But the Alvarado was torn down in 1970, and other Harvey Houses, like the Castañeda, were moved, repurposed or left to molder. Susan Spano, Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2019 Millions of documents were burned; millions more were left soaking wet, and soon began to molder in the muggy Missouri heat. New York Times, 5 June 2019 See More Word History
Etymology
Verb
frequentative of mold entry 4
First Known Use
Verb
1531, in the meaning defined above
Noun
1599, in the meaning defined above
moldering 1 of 3
adjective
as in rotting
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- rotting
- decaying
- moldy
- decomposing
- disintegrating
- putrescent
- putrefying
- mildewy
- crumbled
- disintegrated
- corroded
- degenerated
- deteriorated
- gangrenous
- tainted
- rancid
- contaminated
- polluted
- defiled
- putrid
- decayed
- turned
- fermented
- decomposed
- impure
- sour
- off
- fouled
- soured
- curdled
- rank
- rotten
- corrupted
- spoiled
- addled
- putrefied
- sourish
- bad
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- fresh
- undecomposed
- pristine
- sweet
- preserved
- untouched
- good
- unspoiled
- uncontaminated
- untainted
- unpolluted
- undefiled
moldering
2 of 3noun
as in fermentation
Synonyms & Similar Words
- fermentation
- crumbling
- disintegration
- souring
- festering
- curdling
- decomposition
- rot
- decay
- putrefaction
- putrescence
- spoilage
- dissolution
- corruption
- breakdown
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- growth
- ripening
- maturation
moldering
3 of 3verb
as in decomposing
to go through decomposition leaves moldering in the compost pile Synonyms & Similar Words
- rotting
- decomposing
- decaying
- disintegrating
- festering
- putrefying
- molding
- crumbling
- corrupting
- perishing
- deteriorating
- spoiling
- rusting
- descending
- fouling
- falling apart
- turning
- polluting
- fermenting
- defiling
- running to seed
- contaminating
- souring
- tainting
- breaking down
- going to seed
- withering
- mortifying
- degenerating
- sinking
- dilapidating
- curdling
- addling
- turning off
- declining
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- aging
- growing
- ripening
- restoring
- developing
- maturing
- ageing
- renewing
- assembling
- purifying
- composing
- cleansing
- integrating
- improving
- refreshing
- ameliorating
- meliorating
- bettering