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Synonyms

corrugated

American  
[kawr-uh-gey-tid, kor-] / ˈkɔr əˌgeɪ tɪd, ˈkɒr- /

adjective

  1. shaped into wavy folds or alternating furrows and ridges.

    Drops of rain hammered on the corrugated metal roof.

    Your cat can use the toy’s corrugated cardboard center as a scratching mat.


verb

  1. the simple past tense and past participle of corrugate.

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of corrugated

First recorded in 1585–95; corrugate ( def. ) + -ed 2 ( def. ) for the adjective; corrugate ( def. ) + -ed 1 ( def. ) for the verb

Explanation

Corrugated means molded into tight ridges and valleys. You've probably seen corrugated cardboard or corrugated metal roofs. Materials are put into a corrugated shape to ensure elasticity and strength — cardboard boxes hold their shape because the cardboard is reinforced with a corrugated layer inside the two flat pieces. To remember corrugated, think about corduroy pants — which also have ridges and valleys. If you're lucky enough to have had ribbon candy, that's corrugated as well.

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Vocabulary lists containing corrugated

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

The corrugated steel walls are filled with very dense foam that is burning slowly and emitting gases despite ongoing water drops from helicopters.

From Los Angeles Times Jun. 20, 2026

The affected dormitory had shattered windows, blackened walls and a crumpled corrugated iron roof, an AFP journalist saw.

From Barron's May 28, 2026

Special corrugated boxes have been developed to protect the fruit and help keep them cool.

From BBC May 25, 2026

U.S. gas futures are up a relatively tame 14% since then, offering an advantage to domestic producers of fertilizer and other economic building blocks including steel, plastic, and corrugated packaging.

From The Wall Street Journal Mar. 12, 2026

At the party, at the corrugated tin shack of Maria Isabel’s cousin, Jasmin eats chicken, tries to blow up a red balloon, and borrows a pink bike with training wheels.

From "Enrique's Journey" by Sonia Nazario

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