withering

adjective

with·​er·​ing
ˈwit͟h-riŋ,
ˈwi-t͟hə- How to pronounce withering (audio)
: acting or serving to cut down or destroy : devastating
a withering fire from the enemy
a withering rebuke
witheringly
ˈwit͟h-riŋ-lē
ˈwi-t͟hə- How to pronounce withering (audio)
adverb

Examples of withering in a Sentence

The book has been the subject of withering criticism. She gave me a withering look.
Recent Examples on the Web The show’s perspective on charter schools becomes all the more withering when Ava comes around to Barbara’s point of view. Jessica Winter, The New Yorker, 16 Mar. 2023 Esper has come under withering criticism for using that term, and Mattis joined in Wednesay. Deirdre Shesgreen, USA TODAY, 3 June 2020 The cages demanded daily cleaning, another of Edith’s chores, performed under the withering scrutiny of her grandmother. Washington Post, 10 Jan. 2020 The policy, which is being challenged in court, has been under withering scrutiny from immigrant advocates, Democrats and even some of the asylum officers overseeing it. Camilo Montoya-Galvez, CBS News, 9 July 2019 The package of support soon came under withering attack. Cagan Koc, Bloomberg.com, 5 May 2020 Their contribution would be welcomed by a government that has only 8,000 ventilators on hand, and that has faced withering criticism over its coronavirus communication and testing strategies. CNN, 3 Apr. 2020 But the department has come under withering criticism for refusing to close most courts or delay hearings for immigrants detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, despite a flurry of calls do so by judges, prosecutors and lawyers. CBS News, 23 Mar. 2020 Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts and Rashida Tlaib of Michigan — has drawn withering condemnation from Democrats and some Republicans. CBS News, 18 July 2019

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'withering.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1579, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of withering was in 1579

Dictionary Entries Near withering

Cite this Entry

“Withering.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/withering. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

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