1
as in hung
to be limp from lack of water or vigor
the flowers drooped on their stalks in the blazing sun
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in faded
to lose bodily strength or vigor
as the afternoon wore on, we started to droop
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 drooped
The chickens stomp with swift feet like an Irish step dancer, keeping their tails erect and wings drooped.
—
Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 29 Apr. 2026
But his mouth was open and drooped peculiarly to one side, and his skin was sucked into his skeleton like a vacuum storage bag.
—Amanda Peet, New Yorker, 21 Mar. 2026
Two boys saw the balloons had drooped to the ground.
—Sue Ambrose, Dallas Morning News, 23 Jan. 2026
Heads drooped and limbs felt sluggish on the sideline, Jones recounted, as the Broncos fell into a 19-0 deficit through three quarters against the Giants.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 23 Oct. 2025
The woman’s husband, a scrawny man in a shabby work uniform, smelling of sewage, drooped behind the gurney.
—Literary Hub, 23 Oct. 2025
Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 29 Apr. 2026
But his mouth was open and drooped peculiarly to one side, and his skin was sucked into his skeleton like a vacuum storage bag.
—Amanda Peet, New Yorker, 21 Mar. 2026
Two boys saw the balloons had drooped to the ground.
—Sue Ambrose, Dallas Morning News, 23 Jan. 2026
Heads drooped and limbs felt sluggish on the sideline, Jones recounted, as the Broncos fell into a 19-0 deficit through three quarters against the Giants.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 23 Oct. 2025
The woman’s husband, a scrawny man in a shabby work uniform, smelling of sewage, drooped behind the gurney.
—Literary Hub, 23 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for drooped
Verb
-
So, the distraction and cloud that hung over her was impeding her ability to effectively represent her constituents.—
Jim DeFede,
CBS News,
26 Apr. 2026
-
In his first May as coach, with limited time to build his roster, Musselman and his staff hung their hopes on Massachusetts center Josh Cohen, who proved to be a liability on both ends.—
Ryan Kartje,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
As the sunlight faded on a cobblestone street, more than 200 students from New York University gathered at a table nearly as long as the city block.—
Susan Svrluga,
Washington Post,
6 May 2026
-
Meanwhile, the risks for ships and crew haven't faded.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
6 May 2026
Verb
-
Rather than carry over the momentum from Sunday, the Sabres gradually sagged due to spotty goaltending and an anemic power play.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
21 Apr. 2026
-
Broadway box office sagged a bit last week, possibly as the previous week’s Easter vacationers and spring-breakers returned home and a crowded, 40-show production slate with lots of newcomers competed with one another for attention.—
Greg Evans,
Deadline,
21 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
People who have weakened immune systems and who experienced intense pain during an initial outbreak are also more susceptible to getting shingles a second (or even third) time.—
Petra Guglielmetti,
Glamour,
7 May 2026
-
Meanwhile, the institutional guardrails have been weakened.—
Israel Melendez Ayala,
Time,
6 May 2026
Verb
-
But before he was felled at age 68 by a heart attack, Joiner had shared what was in the briefcase with the lead Louisiana State Police investigator on the case, Stefan Montgomery, Joiner's son and the LSP confirmed.—
Stephanie Gosk,
NBC news,
28 Apr. 2026
-
John Adams famously wrote to his wife, Abigail, that smallpox was killing 10 soldiers for every one felled in battle.—
Katrine L. Wallace,
The Conversation,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Canvas, the learning management system used by UC, Cal State, USC, Stanford and California community colleges, went offline Thursday during finals preparations after a massive cybersecurity breach at Instructure.—
Jaweed Kaleem,
Los Angeles Times,
8 May 2026
-
In the Hockomock league, Cheyenne Murray went 2-for-4 with a homer, two runs scored and three driven in as King Philip took down Canton 15-3.—
Brendan Connelly,
Boston Herald,
8 May 2026
Verb
-
Come winter most gardens are a little past their prime, looking brown, wilted, and maybe a little sad.—
Melissa Locker,
Southern Living,
1 May 2026
-
Cook, covered, until spinach is wilted, about 3 minutes.—
Maddy Bendgen,
Better Homes & Gardens,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The comeback attempt eventually failed, though.—
Fiifi Frimpong,
New York Daily News,
7 May 2026
-
Bores, presumably, had already failed as well.—
Gideon Lewis-Kraus,
New Yorker,
7 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Drooped.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/drooped. Accessed 9 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
