curdle
verb
cur·dle ˈkər-dᵊl 
curdled; curdling ˈkərd-liŋ
ˈkər-dᵊl-iŋ
intransitive verb
1
: to form curds
also : to congeal as if by forming curds
a scream curdled in her throat
2
: to go bad or wrong : spoil
transitive verb
1
: to cause curds to form in
curdled milk
2
: spoil, sour
Example Sentences
Too much heat will make the custard curdle. Too much heat will curdle the custard.
Recent Examples on the Web This career arc demonstrates how a political mindset can curdle and — through sanctimony — turn toward promoting that authoritarianism that liberals now embrace. 
Armond White, National Review, 12 Aug. 2022 But don't squeeze lemon into a latte or even a regular drip that has a splash of milk in it—the lemon juice will curdle any dairy in the cup, and that can sour you on the flavor more than the citrusy tang. Marisa Cohen, Good Housekeeping, 3 Aug. 2022 Substitute canned for whole milk (may curdle if cooked too long at high temperature); coconut milk beverage is fine for drinking or as a substitute for skim, reduced- or low-fat milk. Becky Krystal, Washington Post, 20 June 2022 And his cynicism about human nature seemed to curdle into contempt for human beings. Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 26 May 2022 Note: Keep an eye on heat; if too high and mixture starts to curdle, reduce heat. Kim Sunée, Anchorage Daily News, 26 May 2022 Then out of nowhere, a familiar feeling begins to curdle in the pit of my stomach. Chioma Nnadi, Vogue, 19 May 2022 And allowing a fantasy of 1.5 degrees to outlast its feasibility could curdle hope into bad assumptions, foolish thinking, or worse. Robinson Meyer, The Atlantic, 6 Apr. 2022 This kind of comparison can curdle people’s relationships to one another — and to their own jobs. New York Times, 15 Feb. 2022 See More
Armond White, National Review, 12 Aug. 2022 But don't squeeze lemon into a latte or even a regular drip that has a splash of milk in it—the lemon juice will curdle any dairy in the cup, and that can sour you on the flavor more than the citrusy tang. Marisa Cohen, Good Housekeeping, 3 Aug. 2022 Substitute canned for whole milk (may curdle if cooked too long at high temperature); coconut milk beverage is fine for drinking or as a substitute for skim, reduced- or low-fat milk. Becky Krystal, Washington Post, 20 June 2022 And his cynicism about human nature seemed to curdle into contempt for human beings. Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 26 May 2022 Note: Keep an eye on heat; if too high and mixture starts to curdle, reduce heat. Kim Sunée, Anchorage Daily News, 26 May 2022 Then out of nowhere, a familiar feeling begins to curdle in the pit of my stomach. Chioma Nnadi, Vogue, 19 May 2022 And allowing a fantasy of 1.5 degrees to outlast its feasibility could curdle hope into bad assumptions, foolish thinking, or worse. Robinson Meyer, The Atlantic, 6 Apr. 2022 This kind of comparison can curdle people’s relationships to one another — and to their own jobs. New York Times, 15 Feb. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
metathetic variant of cruddle, crudle, frequentative of crud entry 2
First Known Use
1585, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1
Phrases Containing curdle
Kids Definition
curdle
verb
cur·dle ˈkər-dᵊl
curdled; curdling
: to thicken or cause to become thickened with or as if with curds
The milk curdled.
curdling 1 of 2
noun
as in fermentation
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- fermentation
- souring
- disintegration
- crumbling
- putrefaction
- decomposition
- spoilage
- moldering
- decay
- dissolution
- putrescence
- festering
- rot
- breakdown
- corruption
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- maturation
- growth
- ripening
curdling
2 of 2verb
1
as in souring
Synonyms & Similar Words
- souring
- estranging
- angering
- infuriating
- enraging
- incensing
- antagonizing
- alienating
- embittering
- aggravating
- disaffecting
- envenoming
- maddening
- setting (against)
- disgruntling
- empoisoning
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- appeasing
- ingratiating
- endearing
- pacifying
- placating
- sweetening
- assuaging
- mollifying
- propitiating
2
as in curding
Synonyms & Similar Words
- curding
- clumping
- thickening
- gumming
- freezing
- condensing
- caking
- coagulating
- stiffening
- clotting
- congealing
- hardening
- gelling
- solidifying
- jellying
- lumping (up)
- gelatinizing
- jelling
- concreting
- indurating
- fixing
- gelating
- firming (up)
- setting
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- melting
- liquefying
- thawing
- liquifying
- fluxing
- fusing
- deliquescing