plural hoardings
1
a
: the practice of collecting or accumulating something (such as money or food)
The hoarding and misuse of resources was uncommon even in times of natural disaster …—
Tanvi Nagpal
Tanvi Nagpal
b
: something that is hoarded
—usually plural
Inside the net with us was a large brown paper bag, spewing forth the Halloween hoardings of the child in the gorilla suit …—John Irving
John Irving2
psychology
: the compulsion to continually accumulate a variety of items that are often considered useless or worthless by others accompanied by an inability to discard the items without great distress
Hoarding is marked by an overwhelming desire to collect items and an inability to discard things that may seem useless, to such a point that the collections cause stress and start impacting a person's health, career or relationships.—Erin Allday
Erin AlldayPeople justify hoarding as curating and recycling, deeming odd objects beautiful and useful.—Peter D. Kramer
see also hoarding disorder
Peter D. Kramer
plural hoardings
1
: a temporary board fence put about a building being erected or repaired
called also hoard
2
British
: billboard
Examples of hoarding in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the WebMelanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 15 June 2024
He is also accused of plotting to subvert the results of the 2020 election and hoarding and mishandling sensitive government documents in three other cases, in which he’s pleaded not guilty.
—Molly Crane-Newman, New York Daily News, 11 June 2024
Listen to this article A judge on Monday delayed a ruling that would dismiss animal cruelty charges in a goat hoarding case that left nearly 100 goats in the state’s care and dozens more dead, according to a release from Attorney General William Tong.
—Taylor Hartz, Hartford Courant, 9 Apr. 2024
Conservatives dismiss universities as factories for indoctrination, while liberals believe that the whole idea of meritocratic admissions is a fig leaf for upper-class power hoarding.
—Mark Gimein, theweek, 19 Feb. 2024
See all Example Sentences for hoarding 
Noun
The movie gathers a starry cast led by Succession star Sarah Snook, who lends her voice to protagonist Grace Puddle, a young woman with a difficult life story who finds comfort in the hoarding of snail memorabilia.
—Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 15 June 2024
He is also accused of plotting to subvert the results of the 2020 election and hoarding and mishandling sensitive government documents in three other cases, in which he’s pleaded not guilty.
—Molly Crane-Newman, New York Daily News, 11 June 2024
Listen to this article A judge on Monday delayed a ruling that would dismiss animal cruelty charges in a goat hoarding case that left nearly 100 goats in the state’s care and dozens more dead, according to a release from Attorney General William Tong.
—Taylor Hartz, Hartford Courant, 9 Apr. 2024
Conservatives dismiss universities as factories for indoctrination, while liberals believe that the whole idea of meritocratic admissions is a fig leaf for upper-class power hoarding.
—Mark Gimein, theweek, 19 Feb. 2024
See all Example Sentences for hoarding
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'hoarding.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Hoarding.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hoarding. Accessed 4 Jul. 2024.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
hoarding
noun
hoard·ing
ˈhȯrd-iŋ 
: the compulsion to continually accumulate a variety of items that are often considered useless or worthless by others accompanied by an inability to discard the items without great distress
Hoarding is marked by an overwhelming desire to collect items and an inability to discard things that may seem useless, to such a point that the collections cause stress and start impacting a person's health, career or relationships.—Erin Allday
Erin AlldayPeople justify hoarding as curating and recycling, deeming odd objects beautiful and useful.—Peter D. Kramer
see hoarding disorder
Peter D. KramerLove words? Need even more definitions?
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