waxy
waxy Lexical Profile
waxy Game Scores & Validity
• adjective
Resembling wax in texture, consistency, or appearance; smooth, pliable, or covered with a wax-like coating.
"The tropical plant has thick, waxy leaves that help it retain moisture in hot climates."
Having a pale, translucent, or bloodless complexion, often due to illness, exhaustion, or shock.
"After three days of fighting the fever, the patient's skin looked pale and waxy."
Having a firm, moist flesh with low starch content that holds its shape well when cooked (especially of certain varieties of potatoes or corn).
"For a classic potato salad, use waxy potatoes like red bliss or fingerlings so the pieces do not fall apart."
Word Nuance & Usage
'Waxy' generally describes physical texture, coating, or a pale, translucent appearance, whereas 'waxen' is more literary and typically used for pale complexions or figures actually made of wax.
• Rhymes for waxy
Word Origin & Etymology
Formed in Middle English from the noun 'wax' (from Old English 'weax') and the adjective-forming suffix '-y'.