airless

adjective

Definition of airlessnext
as in unventilated

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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 airless International tourists hailing from countries far and wide flew to Spain for the eclipse, while local residents hopped aboard packed and seemingly airless trains from Barcelona. — Annissa Durar, Condé Nast Traveler, 14 Aug. 2026 Replicating the cold, airless void of space inside a high-vacuum chamber on Earth, defense giants Lockheed Martin and L3Harris Technologies have cleared a massive technical hurdle in the race to protect the American homeland. — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 11 Aug. 2026 When an airless body, such as an asteroid, occults (or hides) a background star the star's light winks out in an instant, before suddenly reappearing. — Keith Cooper, Space.com, 10 Aug. 2026 But officials need confidence in the Raptor engine’s ability to reignite in the airless vacuum of space before proceeding to an orbital flight. — Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 14 July 2026 Meanwhile, satellites in orbit face radiation exposure and an airless landscape—hardware must stand alone against temperature and time, with no help on the way. — Allie Garfinkle, Fortune, 14 July 2026 And just like Rue’s transformation into an AR-15 salesperson, so much of this early phase of Euphoria’s return feels completely airless. — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 8 Apr. 2026 Your rightness would earn you a compressed, airless, spiky situation, like the one your parents had. — Addie Citchens, New Yorker, 8 Mar. 2026 Whereas Mercury, a practically airless world, achieves temperatures that rise up to 427 °C (800 °F) in full Sun while its night side can plummet to as low as -180 °C (-290 °F), Venus consistently remains between 440–480 °C (820–900 °F). — Big Think, 5 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for airless
  1. unventilated
  2. suffocating
  3. stuffy
  4. breathless
Adjective
  • The cells were frequently cramped, dark, unventilated, and damp.
    — Amer Matar, The Dial, 26 May 2026
  • In 1985, an explosion in the basement of a Ross department store—caused by an unventilated buildup of methane gas underneath the store—razed several city blocks and injured twenty-three people.
    — Oren Peleg, New Yorker, 9 May 2026
Definition of unventilated
Adjective
  • The Valkyries won their third straight game, defeating the Sparks 78-58 behind a suffocating defensive performance.
    — Nathan Canilao, Mercury News, 16 June 2026
  • The Fleet played a suffocating style of hockey, with a strong forecheck and the ability to wear down opponents with relentless offensive-zone pressure.
    — Hailey Salvian, New York Times, 16 June 2026
Definition of suffocating
Adjective
  • This light, airy matching set provides coverage without feeling stuffy or constricting.
    — Amelia McBride, Travel + Leisure, 13 Aug. 2026
  • With less humidity in the air, your home should start to feel less stuffy, even without lowering the thermostat and making your air conditioner work harder.
    — Ashley Chalmers, The Spruce, 8 Aug. 2026
Definition of stuffy
Adjective
  • With breathless hype and repeat viewings galore, the superhero sequel will cross $2 billion worldwide at a near-record pace.
    — Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 12 Aug. 2026
  • The story has all the makings of a viral documentary replete with breathless details, similar to the ones McDonnell’s company produced.
    — Cheyenne Roundtree, Rolling Stone, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of breathless

Browse Nearby Words

airing
airless
airliner
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Cite this Entry

“Airless.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/airless. Accessed 21 Aug. 2026.

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