WITHER Synonyms: 49 Similar and Opposite Words

wither

verb

ˈwi-t͟hər

Definition of wither

as in to dry

to lose liveliness, force, or freshness shortly after the moon landing, interest in the space program withered the old man seemed to wither suddenly upon turning 80

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to fade

to lose bodily strength or vigor if he's left on his own, he'll just wither and die

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of wither After all, there’s a reason these rugs haven’t withered away. — Michelle Mastro, The Spruce, 29 June 2026 Each side drew a yellow card, and four players withered on the ground in the 83rd minute after an Australian push into the box led to Bos’ slow-rolling shot that was saved. — Cam Inman, Mercury News, 26 June 2026 The legislation was first introduced in 2023 but withered in the House. — Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 25 June 2026 Among the other Paris attractions to close amid the withering heat are Notre-Dame de Paris, which closed its towers earlier this week, and the Palais de Tokyo, which has shuttered its exhibitions entirely from June 22 through June 27. — News Desk, Artforum, 24 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for wither

Recent Examples of Synonyms for wither

Verb

After cleaning, dry thoroughly with a cloth or air-dry overnight.

— Nafeesah Allen, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 July 2026
To experience its silky-smooth results, gently massage the serum into your scalp when your hair is dry or towel-dried post-shower—and, cue the compliments!

— Kyra Surgent, InStyle, 14 July 2026

Definition of dry

Verb

Most of Future’s peers in the post-Lil Wayne digital-trap era of the early 2010s, from fellow Atlanta stars Young Thug and 2 Chainz to Southern boldfaced names like Kodak Black and Kevin Gates, have faded back into the regional-rap morass.

— Mosi Reeves, Rolling Stone, 14 July 2026
Each song explores a different kind of longing—lovers come together but fall apart, dreams fade away only to have resolutions renewed—against a different strain of soul.

— Stephen Thomas Erlewine, Pitchfork, 14 July 2026

Definition of fade

Verb

Alcaraz missed this year's French Open — and Wimbledon — with a wrist injury, and Sinner was eliminated in the second round in Paris after wilting in the heat.

— ABC News, ABC News, 12 July 2026
The temperature that day had reached 99 degrees and the city had wilted, but the downpour caused the mercury to plummet a good 10 degrees.

— Jessica Gelt, Los Angeles Times, 10 July 2026

Definition of wilt

Verb

The flow of dark traffic is one of the factors that helped explain why oil markets had weakened significantly by early June, together with a surge in exports from the US and pullback in buying by China.

— Weilun Soon, Fortune, 5 July 2026
But as several surveys have consistently indicated, optimism about our country's outlook has undeniably weakened.

— Robert Hormats, Time, 4 July 2026

Definition of weaken

Verb

The company was adding 18,000 square feet to 15 upper floors of the building, and the additional load caused two columns to bend, sagging the floors – some as much as 4 inches, Nathan Berman, founder and managing principal of MetroLoft, told CNN.

— Gloria Pazmino, CNN Money, 11 July 2026
Peptides and retinol help support collagen production, as well as smooth crow’s-feet and firm sagging skin.

— Daley Quinn, Glamour, 9 July 2026

Definition of sag

Verb

News of his death – one example of the political violence roiling America in recent years – quickly went global, with graphic videos flooding social media and politicians on both sides of the aisle swiftly condemning the killing.

— Nicki Brown, CNN Money, 6 July 2026
Leo Jimenez also went deep for the Marlins, who set a franchise record with 12 homers for a three-game series.

— Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 6 July 2026

Definition of go

Verb

Though the team failed to advance to the knockout round, its historic run inspired an outpouring of national pride, while uniting Haitians at home and abroad.

— Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 15 July 2026
Arredondo is charged with 10 counts of endangering students for allegedly failing to quickly respond to the May 24, 2022, shooting, in which 19 students and two teachers were killed.

— Peter Charalambous, ABC News, 14 July 2026