as in napkins
a piece of cloth used for drying things
She dried her hair with a towel. Here's a towel to wipe up the spill.
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Recent Examples of towels
Scrape the ricotta from the towels and transfer it to a large bowl.
—
Kate Williams, AJC.com, 18 May 2026
The towels activate instantly with water -- just wet, wring, and shake for a refreshing cool, ideal for workouts, commutes, sports, dog walks or hot flashes.
—ABC News, 16 May 2026
Portable neck fans are one; cooling towels are another.
—Michelle Baricevic, Travel + Leisure, 16 May 2026
The Aesthetic Appeal A large part of why hotels gravitate toward white towels and sheets is because of their look.
—Shagun Khare, The Spruce, 15 May 2026
Separate any lint-producing fabrics like cotton towels from lint-attracting items like fleece blankets and jackets.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 15 May 2026
Alongside water, 14 misting stations will be installed, with iced towels given at the post-finish walk-off.
—Amethyst Martinez, USA Today, 15 May 2026
After paramedics arrived, security held up towels to provide privacy as the man was being treated.
—Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 14 May 2026
Paper towels can be especially helpful for preventing any leftover grease from transferring onto cloth towels.
—Olivia McIntosh, Martha Stewart, 9 May 2026
Kate Williams, AJC.com, 18 May 2026
The towels activate instantly with water -- just wet, wring, and shake for a refreshing cool, ideal for workouts, commutes, sports, dog walks or hot flashes.
—ABC News, 16 May 2026
Portable neck fans are one; cooling towels are another.
—Michelle Baricevic, Travel + Leisure, 16 May 2026
The Aesthetic Appeal A large part of why hotels gravitate toward white towels and sheets is because of their look.
—Shagun Khare, The Spruce, 15 May 2026
Separate any lint-producing fabrics like cotton towels from lint-attracting items like fleece blankets and jackets.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 15 May 2026
Alongside water, 14 misting stations will be installed, with iced towels given at the post-finish walk-off.
—Amethyst Martinez, USA Today, 15 May 2026
After paramedics arrived, security held up towels to provide privacy as the man was being treated.
—Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 14 May 2026
Paper towels can be especially helpful for preventing any leftover grease from transferring onto cloth towels.
—Olivia McIntosh, Martha Stewart, 9 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for towels
handkerchiefs
Noun
-
In September, seek out Independence Day traditions like cueca (a folk dance with handkerchiefs) on street corners and at week-long fondas (pop-up fairs).—
Mark Johanson,
Condé Nast Traveler,
15 May 2026
-
Had Otello understood that all the world is a joke, as Falstaff startlingly reveals at the end of the opera, Iago would never have been able to poison Otello’s susceptible frail ego with his ridiculous tales of handkerchiefs and what-not.—
Classical Music Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
29 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Towels.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/towels. Accessed 24 May. 2026.
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