as in to grind
to reduce to fine particles
eons of incessant pounding by the waves have comminuted the once-rocky shoreline into a bed of fine-grained sand
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Examples 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 comminute
The report of displacement (out of alignment) is not as worrisome as if the fracture was comminuted (pieces).
—
Profootballdoc, sandiegouniontribune.com, 5 Nov. 2017
Also, this prognosis is rooted in my hopefulness the fracture is not comminuted (in multiple pieces), as that might prolong the timeline by a couple of weeks.
—Profootballdoc, sandiegouniontribune.com, 16 Oct. 2017
Profootballdoc, sandiegouniontribune.com, 5 Nov. 2017
Also, this prognosis is rooted in my hopefulness the fracture is not comminuted (in multiple pieces), as that might prolong the timeline by a couple of weeks.
—Profootballdoc, sandiegouniontribune.com, 16 Oct. 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for comminute
Verb
-
The variation is thought to have come from groups experimenting with food-processing techniques such as grinding wild grains into flour.Elizabeth Rayne, Ars Technica, 27 Dec. 2024
-
Sweet, citrusy coriander seeds are ground with the anise whisper of fennel seeds, then combined with flaky sea salt and the warm-chocolate edge of Urfa chiles.Scott Hocker, theweek, 23 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
Consider marinating or pounding it thin for quicker and more tender results when needed.Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 22 Dec. 2024
-
And in Yemen, the Houthi rebels, another Iranian ally, have been pounded in air strikes by a U.S.-led coalition in response to their attacks on ships in the Red Sea.Robin Wright, The New Yorker, 19 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
The big picture: Most of the Colts' paths to the postseason closed after a crushing Week 15 loss to the Denver Broncos that helped the Houston Texans clinch the AFC South.Justin L. Mack, Axios, 20 Dec. 2024
-
The car’s headlight on the driver’s side also appeared to have been crushed.Kimberlee Speakman, People.com, 19 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
Elsewhere, her teammate Kayla powders her undereyes while in a split on the floor.Elise Taylor, Vogue, 26 Nov. 2024
-
In the wake of their failure to stop Obamacare, the Republican Party’s more pragmatic lawmakers wish that the Tea Party would powder their wigs, oil their single-shot muskets, and leave the governing to others.Michael Kazin, Foreign Affairs, 18 Oct. 2013
Verb
-
The Rams were four days removed from defeating the Las Vegas Raiders, and the Vikings were four days removed from a 31-29 loss to the Lions, who have left opponents beat up throughout the season.Gary Klein, Los Angeles Times, 7 Jan. 2025
-
Utah’s thriving in Big 12 The Utes have made a triumphant entrance into the Big 12, winning two games against fellow Pac-12 migrants Arizona State and Arizona and then going into Ames, Iowa, and beating Iowa State in a back-and-forth affair.Sabreena Merchant, The Athletic, 6 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
Instead of that big table, people milled with their drinks beside a bar.Laurel Wamsley, NPR, 22 Dec. 2024
-
Just down the road, workers mill in and out of the launch pad area where SpaceX founder Elon Musk and his team propel 5,000-ton rockets into space and from where the tycoon hopes to someday send humans to Mars.Rick Jervis, USA TODAY, 18 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
Cunningham will pulverize smaller players in the post.Fred Katz, The Athletic, 3 Jan. 2025
-
And now, with the country in flux and a former president known for defying the laws of political gravity and pulverizing long-standing norms soon to be sworn back into office, he’s launched a new push to blunt Newsom’s flashy maneuver and rescind California’s call to amend the Constitution.Julia Wick, Los Angeles Times, 22 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
The tents, once so difficult to obtain they were considered a luxury, have largely disintegrated after a year of exposure to the elements, leaking and providing little protection from the biting wind, humanitarian organizations say.Aryn Baker, New York Times, 30 Dec. 2024
-
The debris — small rocks known as meteoroids — collides with Earth's atmosphere at high speed and disintegrates, creating fiery and colorful streaks in the sky, according to NASA.Jenna Prestininzi, Detroit Free Press, 29 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near comminute
Cite this Entry
“Comminute.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/comminute. Accessed 9 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share