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Definition of molasses

molasses

/məˈlæs.əz/
mo · las · ses
Plural:molasses
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molasses Lexical Profile

molasses Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

North American A thick, dark brown syrup produced during the refining of sugar, commonly used in baking and cooking.

Example

"She added a spoonful of molasses to the gingerbread batter to give it a rich, deep flavor."

2

Used in comparisons to denote extreme slowness or sluggishness.

Example

"Traffic on the snow-covered highway moved like molasses."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for molasses

Word Nuance & Usage

While it appears plural, 'molasses' is an uncountable singular noun. In British English, the equivalent syrup is typically called 'treacle'.

• Rhymes for molasses

• Nearby Words

mokelumne
moksha
mola
molasses
molding
moldova
mole

Word Origin & Etymology

From Portuguese 'melaço', derived from Late Latin 'mellacium' (must or honey-like liquid), which traces back to Latin 'mel', meaning 'honey'.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Molasses. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 16, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/molasses
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