1
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

2

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 World & Nation Israel launches withering attack on Iran, spurring retaliation and fears of all-out war June 13, 2025 After briefly suspending its nuclear work in 2003, spooked by the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, the Islamic Republic restarted uranium enrichment in the Persian city of Isfahan in 2005. Michael Wilner, Los Angeles Times, 17 June 2025 But their hopes of getting a bill through the Senate this month have withered as other priorities take precedence. Morgan Chalfant, semafor.com, 17 June 2025 Zaslav is one split away from fully turning his former position atop a withering bundle of cable channels into the man exclusively in charge of HBO and Warner Bros., two giant brands in Hollywood history — and its present. Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 14 May 2025 Super close, straight down the barrel, and with two actors who can command the shot where others might wither. Daron James, IndieWire, 27 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for wither
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wither
Verb
  • From there, use a clean, soft toothbrush to remove any lingering stains and wipe off with a clean cotton cloth to dry and remove any excess oil.
    Lauren Wicks, Southern Living, 24 June 2025
  • Per Archaeology News, conservators soaked it in a desalination bath for ten weeks before cleaning, drying and stabilizing it.
    Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 23 June 2025
Verb
  • Once the uncertainty begins to fade, capital returns more quickly than most anticipate.
    Jim Osman, Forbes.com, 23 June 2025
  • The red measurement markings also have a tendency to fade over time, especially with frequent dishwasher use.
    Francesca Krempa, Bon Appetit Magazine, 20 June 2025
Verb
  • Go in the morning, because in the heat of the sun, the flowers often wilt.
    Sheryl De Vore, Chicago Tribune, 23 June 2025
  • Its hype, while intoxicating, eventually wilted away with the passing seasons.
    Andre Gee, Rolling Stone, 23 June 2025
Verb
  • Abandoning recognition can erode motivation, diminish engagement and make employees feel invisible, weakening the cultural fabric and undermining long-term resilience.
    Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 27 June 2025
  • But in an unexpected ruling in 2023, the Supreme Court declined an invitation to weaken Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act.
    June 27, CBS News, 27 June 2025
Verb
  • The latex makes this mattress buoyant and responsive, which is critical in keeping your hips from sagging and your lower back will be adequately supported.
    Nora Colomer may earn a commission if you buy through our referral links. This content was created by a team that works independently from the Fox newsroom., FOXNews.com, 27 June 2025
  • For Steve Hill, CEO and President of the city’s tourism board, this downturn is in part seasonal, and a likely response to a sagging economy and government policies that have soured travelers from Canada, Mexico and other big feeder countries on the idea of vacationing in the United States.
    Matt Villano, CNN Money, 25 June 2025
Verb
  • As the story goes, Jackson Pollock stepped onto a canvas in 1947, drizzled some paint here and there, and God reached a bony finger down from the heavens and pressed it upon the scale of art history, tilting it from Europe to the United States.
    Zachary Fine, New Yorker, 24 June 2025
  • The transponders onboard Relay 2 stopped responding to radio signals in June 1967, after which point the satellite went silent—until last June.
    Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 June 2025
Verb
  • The rap producer has been incarcerated at Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center since his September arrest, having failed to persuade multiple judges to release him to house arrest on a $50 million bond.
    Molly Crane-Newman, New York Daily News, 23 June 2025
  • Why did selling fail as a strategy every time but once?
    Jim Cramer, CNBC, 23 June 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Wither.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wither. Accessed 5 Jul. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on wither

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!