Dressed in or covered with something. It is often used in descriptions, like "snow-clad mountains" or "leather-clad biker."
Past tense of the Old English verb "clothe," which became a separate adjective over time. It traces back to Germanic roots related to covering or dressing.
When you see "-clad," you can mentally swap in "covered in" or "wearing"—it’s a poetic shortcut. Writers love it because it turns clothing or covering into part of the identity, not just an accessory.
Descriptions of people as “clad” in certain ways have often been applied more to women, especially in literature and media that objectified or scrutinized women’s clothing. Such usage sometimes reinforced gendered judgments about modesty or desirability.
Use “clad” sparingly for people; when describing clothing, avoid focusing on or judging one gender’s attire more than others.
["dressed","wearing","covered","garbed"]
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