variants
or less commonly drouth
1
: a period of dryness especially when prolonged
specifically
: one that causes extensive damage to crops or prevents their successful growth
resistant to drought
2
: a prolonged or chronic shortage or lack of something expected or desired
a drought of creativity
droughty
adjective
ˈdrau̇-tē
Examples of drought in a Sentence
The drought caused serious damage to crops.
a period of drought that lasted several years
Recent Examples on the Web
As usual, questions abound as the Hornets prepare to retool the roster following a 44-win campaign that concluded without ending the league’s longest current playoff drought.
—
Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 22 May 2026
Keep the soil moist because fuchsia plants don’t tolerate droughts.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 22 May 2026
While parts of the Treasure Valley saw twice the normal precipitation last month, drought still deepened across much of the state, according to Idaho Department of Water Resources hydrologist Hannah Adams.
—Mark Dee
may 22, Idaho Statesman, 22 May 2026
By the way, dry conditions associated with drought can also amplify flooding because extreme rain falling on hard, dry surfaces increases runoff rate like a paved surface.
—Marshall Shepherd, Forbes.com, 22 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for drought
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Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 22 May 2026
Keep the soil moist because fuchsia plants don’t tolerate droughts.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 22 May 2026
While parts of the Treasure Valley saw twice the normal precipitation last month, drought still deepened across much of the state, according to Idaho Department of Water Resources hydrologist Hannah Adams.
—Mark Dee
may 22, Idaho Statesman, 22 May 2026
By the way, dry conditions associated with drought can also amplify flooding because extreme rain falling on hard, dry surfaces increases runoff rate like a paved surface.
—Marshall Shepherd, Forbes.com, 22 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for drought
Cite this Entry
“Drought.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/drought. Accessed 23 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
drought
noun
variants
also drouth
ˈdrau̇t 
ˈdrau̇th
: a long period of dry weather
droughty
adjective
-ē
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