antidesiccant
Upper-Intermediate (B2)
IPA: /ˌæntiˈdɛsɪkənt/
KK: /æntiˈdɛsɪkənt/
adjective
Definition
A substance that prevents drying out or loss of moisture.
Example
The antidesiccant helped keep the plants hydrated during the dry season.
Conversation
I just bought some new plants for my apartment.
That's awesome! Are they easy to care for?
Yeah, the seller mentioned they need an antidesiccant to stay healthy.
Good idea! That will help them thrive in the dry air.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
moistening
hydrating
dampening
Antonyms
drying
dehydrating
desiccating
noun
Definition
A substance that stops things from drying out.
Example
The farmer used an antidesiccant to keep the crops hydrated during the dry season.
Conversation
Have you ever heard of an antidesiccant?
I think so, but I'm not really sure what it does.
It's a substance that helps prevent things from drying out.
Root Explanation
Antidesiccant is formed from "anti-" (meaning against) and "desiccant" (from Latin "desiccans", meaning drying). The word refers to a substance that works against drying out or moisture loss.
Memory Tip
Think of 'against' ('anti-') something that 'dries' ('desiccant') — that's why antidesiccant means a substance that prevents drying.
Visually Confused Words
desiccant