dieback

noun

die·​back ˈdī-ˌbak How to pronounce dieback (audio)
: a condition in woody plants in which peripheral parts are killed (as by parasites)

Examples of dieback in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Warm-water coral reefs — on which nearly 1 billion people and a quarter of all marine life depend — suffer widespread coral dieback unless global warming is reversed. Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 14 Oct. 2025 Camellia dieback and canker disease is characterized by sudden wilting and yellowing of the foliage and die-back of branch tips. Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 1 Oct. 2025 However, during the heat of summer, based on my experience, if Marathon was not watered every day, wilt or even dieback could result. Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 10 Sep. 2025 Winter dieback is common on many types of roses, including Knock Out. Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for dieback

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1886, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of dieback was circa 1886

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Cite this Entry

“Dieback.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dieback. Accessed 20 Oct. 2025.

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