curdle
verb (used with or without object)
to change into curd; coagulate; congeal.
was curdling
-
past progressiveof curdle.past progressive
Used to describe an ongoing action or continuous state that was happening at a specific time in the past.
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.
I called Gao Shanwen back in 2019, early in Xi Jinping’s second term, when disappointment over Beijing’s failure to reform its state sector was curdling into something closer to alarm.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 14, 2026
He returned to a hometown that seemed to be developing under that same American planning influence whose reputation was curdling up north.
From Slate ● Dec. 22, 2024
We smelled sweet and sour aromas in the copper kettle room where milk was curdling.
From Washington Post ● Mar. 15, 2023
But the atmosphere was curdling, and Mitchell seemed ill at ease.
From The Guardian ● Jul. 7, 2020
It was like she was curdling inside, filling with anger.
From "Orphan Island" by Laurel Snyder
