detergent

noun

Definition of detergentnext
as in soap
a substance used for cleaning add the detergent to the washing machine before putting in the clothes

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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 detergent Shower Liners And Shower Curtains Clean your shower curtains and liners monthly in the washing machine or by soaking them with detergent in the tub. — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 26 Feb. 2025 What to do: Soapy water or plain laundry detergent works well for mildly dirty white shoes. — Katelyn Squiers, Better Homes & Gardens, 24 Jan. 2025 Jason Kelce seems inescapable on television, popping up in commercials for Campbell’s soup, the Marriott hotel chain, General Mills foods, YouTube TV, Buffalo Wild Wings and Tide laundry detergent. — Emmanuel Morgan, New York Times, 23 Jan. 2025 Using a deep cleaning detergent, such as Tide Hygienic Clean, is also recommended for use against norovirus. — The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for detergent

Browse Nearby Words

detergent
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Detergent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/detergent. Accessed 19 Mar. 2025.

Copy Citation

Share

More from Merriam-Webster on detergent

Nglish: Translation of detergent for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about detergent

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

More Commonly Misspelled Words

Words You Always Have to Look Up
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

13 Unusually Long English Words

9 Superb Owl Words

More Words with Remarkable Origins

Terroir, Oenophile, & Magnum: Ten Words About Wine

8 Words for Lesser-Known Musical Instruments
See More

Popular Features

See More

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

13 Unusually Long English Words

9 Superb Owl Words
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Word Game Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
number-twelve-balloon
12-Letter Words Quiz A dozen words, a dozen letters each.
See All