What does remolded mean?
Remolded means made or shaped anew. The term can describe the physical reconstruction of an object, such as metal or clay that has been melted and formed again, or a more figurative transformation. A person may be described as remolded by hardship, training, travel, or changed circumstances, with the implication that their character or outlook has been fundamentally reshaped. An institution or system can likewise be remolded when it is substantially reorganized. The word is especially associated with American spelling, while British usage commonly prefers the form remoulded. Compared with simply reshaped, remolded often suggests a more complete transformation, as though the original form has been replaced by a fundamentally new one. In literary contexts, it conveys vividness and emphasizes renewal through an intense process.
adjective and past participle of the verb remoldMade or formed anew, especially by reshaping an existing object or by profoundly changing a person's character, circumstances, or outlook.
- Made or formed anew by melting and reshaping or otherwise reconstructing something.
- Deeply changed in character, outlook, or way of life.
- Reorganized substantially so as to give a new form or function.
"Years of travel had remolded her into a more self-assured person."
"The damaged statue was remolded and restored to its original position."
"Military service remolded him, but he never forgot his childhood."
"The organization remolded its outdated administrative system."
To be remolded is to be given a new shape so thoroughly that the original form has been transformed.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does remolded come from?
Remolded is formed from the prefix re-, meaning again, and mold, meaning to shape or form. The root mold comes from Old English mould, the ancestor of both the American spelling mold and the British variant mould. The prefixed form developed in the nineteenth century, initially applying chiefly to physical reshaping and later gaining figurative uses for profound personal or institutional change.
Related word forms
How remolded is actually used
The spelling is especially common in American English; British English more often uses remoulded. Outside literal contexts, it is somewhat literary and conveys a thorough or dramatic transformation.
Easily confused with remolded
Remolded means made or shaped anew, whereas molded usually means shaped into a desired form without implying that the original form no longer exists.