1
as in to die
to stop living
12 people perished in the plane crash
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to disintegrate
chiefly British
to go through decomposition
after being left out in the summer heat, the milk perished and had to be thrown out
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of perish
Currently, about three old satellites or used rocket bodies perish in the atmosphere every day.
—
Tereza Pultarova, Space.com, 13 Mar. 2026
Half of the people aboard perished.
—Arkansas Online, 13 Mar. 2026
While there is no exact count, the number of people who perished during the journey is in the millions, according to Paul Gardullo, the assistant director of history at the National Museum of African American History and Culture.
—ABC News, 12 Mar. 2026
Many Jews would perish, and the remnants would become the vanguard of believers in Jesus.
—Shalom Goldman, The Conversation, 12 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for perish
Tereza Pultarova, Space.com, 13 Mar. 2026
Half of the people aboard perished.
—Arkansas Online, 13 Mar. 2026
While there is no exact count, the number of people who perished during the journey is in the millions, according to Paul Gardullo, the assistant director of history at the National Museum of African American History and Culture.
—ABC News, 12 Mar. 2026
Many Jews would perish, and the remnants would become the vanguard of believers in Jesus.
—Shalom Goldman, The Conversation, 12 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for perish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for perish
Verb
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The investigation is ongoing and the identities of the people who died have not been released.—
Brandon Downs,
CBS News,
29 Mar. 2026
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One infant receiving the Mead Johnson product died — from sepsis, the article said.—
David Hilzenrath,
USA Today,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Last year, the Dominican Republic deported more than 100,000 Haitians back to their disintegrating country.—
George Packer,
The Atlantic,
24 Mar. 2026
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The meteor traveled about 58 miles through the upper atmosphere before disintegrating 29 miles above tiny Calflax in unincorporated Fresno County, Cooke said.—
Darrell Smith,
Sacbee.com,
23 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Night fell, and Martha came to a small black lake.—
Cassandra Neyenesch,
New Yorker,
29 Mar. 2026
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Photos shared on social media shows the massive slabs of rock fell just past a blind curve and the SUV sustained major front-end damage.—
Mark Price,
Charlotte Observer,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The Rockaway Times reported the last whale to wash up on the Rockaways was in May 2025, when the decomposing humpback whale showed up on the beach.—
Thomas Tracy,
New York Daily News,
26 Mar. 2026
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Samantha Johnson received a 15-year, 8-month prison sentence from a Merced County Superior Court judge, ending a four-year legal saga that began in March 2022 with the discovery of Sophia’s decomposing body in this Central Valley city.—
Jakob Rodgers,
Mercury News,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
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And the bumbling nature of Lesgate, with Jones playing the internal conflicts sharply, comes with succumbing to the horrid nature of what money can bring.—
David John Chávez,
Mercury News,
27 Mar. 2026
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Luis Daniel Gutierrez Mora, 31, succumbed to his injuries at a hospital on Tuesday, CMPD said in a March 25 news release.—
Mark Price,
Charlotte Observer,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Too soggy and the bulbs will rot; however, if the soil is too dry, the bulbs may fail to absorb enough nutrients to thrive.—
Michelle Mastro,
Architectural Digest,
24 Mar. 2026
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Just keep it a couple of inches away from plant crowns and stems to avoid rotting.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
23 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Major dental work to remove her broken and decaying teeth, concentrated nutrition, antibiotics, vaccines, a spay surgery and an introduction to such simple luxuries as an indoor bed and gentle touch have all been part of Gertie’s healing.—
News Release,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
27 Mar. 2026
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Searching the room for clues, Hole spots a decaying hand arranged on the shelf with the thumb removed and the index finger pointing upwards — to the fifth floor.—
K.J. Yossman,
Variety,
27 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Perish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/perish. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
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