ooze 1 of 2

noun

ˈüz How to pronounce ooze (audio)
Definition of oozenext
as in mud
soft wet earth our car tires sank deep in the ooze

Synonyms & Similar Words

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ooze

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to drip
to flow forth slowly through small openings maple sap oozed slowly from the cut in the tree and into the bucket

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to drag
to move slowly the line more or less oozes past the body lying in state, as mourners are not allowed to pause

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 ooze
Noun
In photos shared to Instagram by her nail artist, Yoko Sakakura, Rodrigo also rocked a short, glossy manicure that took centerstage partway through the video when red yarn began to ooze from the singer's fingertips. — Chanel Vargas, InStyle, 22 May 2026 Make Homemade Goop Mix up a bowl of Oobleck, a mysterious matter that kids can shape into balls or let ooze from their fingers. — Robin Westen, Parents, 21 May 2026
Verb
The sight of a dough puffing, cheese oozing out its side, becoming browned and crispy…who cannot be swayed? — Alex Beggs, Bon Appetit Magazine, 24 July 2026 But behind the scenes, there’s a quiet confidence oozing off of him, according to the people who know him best. — Cameron Teague Robinson, New York Times, 23 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for ooze
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ooze
  1. mud
  2. drip
  3. drag
  4. sludge
  5. exude
  6. creep
  7. seep
  8. crawl
Noun
  • Political discourse today often makes mud wrestling look clean.
    — Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Hartford Courant, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Cambridge City streets remained submerged in water Thursday or were otherwise caked in mud, said Oliver.
    — Emily Mae Czachor, CBS News, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of mud
Verb
  • Sunburned in my memory was the wall of belts, cuffs and chokers dripping gloriously in silver studs.
    — Julissa James, Los Angeles Times, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Despite the flow of cold air from the gap in the doorjamb, every first-floor window dripped with condensation.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of drip
Verb
  • Pourrain submitted a request for extension of his stay, was awaiting an appointment, the process dragged on for years, and in the meantime, he was granted a work permit and had a valid driver’s license.
    — Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 12 Aug. 2026
  • But Beaman is quick to point out that people shouldn't simply head into the woods and start dragging things out themselves.
    — Spencer Wilson, CBS News, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of drag
Noun
  • The ball rolled to the sticky floor, littered with crushed six-pack carriers and a fine layer of winter sludge, and two competitors dove to fetch it.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 11 Aug. 2026
  • Rather than paying millions to haul away toxic sludge, facilities could soon scrub their rinse water for immediate reuse to harvest high-purity copper directly off their treatment equipment.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of sludge
Verb
  • The Michelin Key retreat named for the patron saint of music simmers with classic ’60s and ’70s energy, exuding the era’s powerful rock revolution with a lending library of vinyls, Rega turntables, and rock biographies.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 Aug. 2026
  • The tech scion initially exuded confidence that Hollywood’s biggest merger in decades was on a fast track to completion by September.
    — Meg James, Los Angeles Times, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of exude
Verb
  • The typical credit score has crept upward, landing in the 700s on the VantageScore scale.
    — Sharon Wu, USA Today, 12 Aug. 2026
  • The polarizing quarterback will start Cleveland's exhibition opener at Chicago on Saturday — his first game action since 2024 — and Shedeur Sanders will play in the second half as the Browns' QB competition creeps toward a conclusion.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of creep
Verb
  • Givens was 9 years old when street life started to seep into his own.
    — Tess Kenny, Chicago Tribune, 15 Aug. 2026
  • Black’s lawyers decided to walk, anger seeping through their legalese.
    — Nate Freeman, Vanity Fair, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of seep
Verb
  • And imagine the bear, cornered in an unfamiliar lair, seeing the light of the only exit blocked by this larger attacker that did not howl or bark, but crawled silently toward him through the addled dogs.
    — Paul Schullery, Outdoor Life, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Tests on Boston Dynamics’ Atlas, Unitree’s G1 and Boston Dynamics’ Spot showed the robots could perform crawling, cartwheels, handstands, soccer kicks and other complex movements across different robotic body types.
    — Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of crawl

Browse Nearby Words

oops
ooze
oozed
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Cite this Entry

“Ooze.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ooze. Accessed 17 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on ooze

Nglish: Translation of ooze for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about ooze

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