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
as in to fade
to lose bodily strength or vigor
if he's left on his own, he'll just wither and die
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Cinematic depictions of criticism are usually withering at best, and pointedly personal at worst.
—
Katie Rife, IndieWire, 4 Sep. 2025
During a tough year for local restaurants, at a time when even upscale spots are withering in the cruel Miami summer, George’s stands out as a spot that truly is a community magnet.
—Miami Herald, 27 Aug. 2025
Across the album, Khamari gets introspective regarding withering romances, crises of faith and the frustrating allure of distance.
—Kyle Denis, Billboard, 22 Aug. 2025
Sombr performs with a distinct internal confidence and external charm that has been notably absent in the withering releases from many of his male contemporaries in pop.
—Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 22 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for wither
Katie Rife, IndieWire, 4 Sep. 2025
During a tough year for local restaurants, at a time when even upscale spots are withering in the cruel Miami summer, George’s stands out as a spot that truly is a community magnet.
—Miami Herald, 27 Aug. 2025
Across the album, Khamari gets introspective regarding withering romances, crises of faith and the frustrating allure of distance.
—Kyle Denis, Billboard, 22 Aug. 2025
Sombr performs with a distinct internal confidence and external charm that has been notably absent in the withering releases from many of his male contemporaries in pop.
—Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 22 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for wither
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wither
Verb
-
To help prevent infections, experts recommend drying dogs' ears after swimming or bathing, addressing underlying allergies, and performing gentle, regular ear cleanings at home.—
Lucy Notarantonio,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Sep. 2025
-
Let the leaves dry for a couple of days.—
Savanna Bous,
Better Homes & Gardens,
17 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Brenner concluded by reminding those on one end of a fading friendship to consider the nature of relationships over time—and how sometimes, things might just come back around.—
Maria Morava,
MSNBC Newsweek,
20 Sep. 2025
-
Union Jacks flap gently in the breeze; a golden slither of evening sun drapes a row of cottages; a red postbox, still bearing the initials of the late Queen, stands outside a village church, bathed in the fading light.—
Rob Picheta,
CNN Money,
20 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Daffodils These vibrant daffodils are the perfect way to arrange a bouquet for your home that’ll never wilt or die.—
Izzy Baskette,
PEOPLE,
16 Sep. 2025
-
Many expected Bud to wilt the first time the Mexican legend landed cleanly.—
Brian Mazique,
Forbes.com,
14 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The Federal Reserve is closely watching spending trends as policymakers debate a path for interest rate cuts — with the first trim expected Wednesday — but signs of a weakening labor market loom over the economy.—
semafor.com,
semafor.com,
19 Sep. 2025
-
While the greenback has depreciated against other major currencies this year, with the dollar index tumbling over 10%, those currencies have also weakened in value relative to gold, Dalio said, noting that gold has become the second largest reserve currency globally.—
Anniek Bao,
CNBC,
19 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The budget negotiations mark the latest step in the city’s financial crisis, which was caused in large part by sagging sales tax revenue and growing expenses.—
Elliott Wenzler,
Denver Post,
19 Sep. 2025
-
Market breadth was soft, the median stock sagging a bit but still in for a decent week.—
Michael Santoli,
CNBC,
19 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Lucky went 1,500 days in the shelter without being adopted, then everything changed.—
Jack Beresford,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 Sep. 2025
-
Before all that happened, though, there was the eight-course dinner, which went totally fine as predicted.—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
In what was billed as the biggest game in the history of this border feud, Indiana attacked from the first quarter and the Illini failed to respond.—
Scott Dochterman,
New York Times,
21 Sep. 2025
-
Due in part to that battle, Bumgarner failed to pitch at least six innings for the first time in two months.—
Justice delos Santos,
Mercury News,
20 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Wither.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wither. Accessed 21 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share