wither

1 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 dry, wilt Related Words mummify, shrivel, wizen; decline, fade, wane; decrease, diminish, lessen Near Antonyms freshen, revive; bloom, flourish, prosper, thrive; develop, grow, increase, wax; crest, peak, surge

2 to lose bodily strength or vigor <if he's left on his own, he'll just wither and die> Synonyms decay, droop, emaciate, fade, fail, flag, go, lag, languish, sag, sink, waste (away), wilt, weakenRelated Words break down, wear out; yield; degenerate, deteriorate, rot, run downNear Antonyms convalesce, rally, rebound, recover, recuperate; gain