1
: excessively dry
specifically
: having insufficient rainfall to support agriculture
an arid region
2
: lacking in interest and life : jejune
arid textbooks
Examples of arid in a Sentence
a dull and arid textbook
an arid speech about duty and responsibility
Recent Examples on the Web
Environmental groups including Greenpeace plan legal action, warning the reform threatens water security for arid regions and delicate glacier ecosystems.
—
Los Angeles Times, 9 Apr. 2026
The very setup suggests a screenwriter whose sense of psychology is defined with arid literalism by his own just-so, cut-to-fit contrivances.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 7 Apr. 2026
Around the time this individual was alive, the Yucatán Peninsula was a semi-arid savannah with no rivers or lakes.
—Ryan Brennan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Apr. 2026
Underwater Caves Hold More Than Human Remains Around the time this individual was alive, the Yucatán Peninsula was a semi-arid savannah with no rivers or lakes — water and shade were scarce.
—Ryan Brennan
april 4, Kansas City Star, 4 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for arid
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Los Angeles Times, 9 Apr. 2026
The very setup suggests a screenwriter whose sense of psychology is defined with arid literalism by his own just-so, cut-to-fit contrivances.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 7 Apr. 2026
Around the time this individual was alive, the Yucatán Peninsula was a semi-arid savannah with no rivers or lakes.
—Ryan Brennan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Apr. 2026
Underwater Caves Hold More Than Human Remains Around the time this individual was alive, the Yucatán Peninsula was a semi-arid savannah with no rivers or lakes — water and shade were scarce.
—Ryan Brennan
april 4, Kansas City Star, 4 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for arid
Cite this Entry
“Arid.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/arid. Accessed 12 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
arid
adjective
ar·id
ˈar-əd 
: very dry
especially
: not having enough rainfall to support agriculture
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