as in bowing
bending downward or forward
faded, drooping banners lining the walls of the old gym
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in flagging
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
1
as in hanging
to be limp from lack of water or vigor
the flowers drooped on their stalks in the blazing sun
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in sagging
to lose bodily strength or vigor
as the afternoon wore on, we started to droop
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of drooping
Charles Trepany, USA Today, 6 May 2026
Engineers hired by the association reported concrete defects, a drooping balcony, loose fire sprinkler joints causing leaks, and corrosion and cracks in the seawall.
—Larry Seward, CBS News, 1 May 2026
Right whales, with their characteristic drooping dorsal fin, are most often seen along the Eastern Seaboard, but over the past few years two of them were spotted in the Gulf, one with a calf.
—Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 Apr. 2026
If the plant’s leaves start turning yellow, drooping, or curling, that is an indication of overwatering.
—Charlie Vargas, Oc Register, 18 Mar. 2026
Curling, drooping, or yellowing leaves can indicate overwatering, while drooping and wilting leaves indicate underwatering.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 7 Mar. 2026
Low indoor humidity and sudden temperature changes can cause drooping stems.
—Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 Feb. 2026
The ship was said to have experienced weakening metal parts that eventually fully fractured from the waves; and intense pressure at the ship's midsection that caused drooping of the bow and stern all combined with severe weather, according to the Presque Isle County Historical Museum.
—Sarah Moore, Freep.com, 4 Nov. 2025
Maria Sabella, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Apr. 2026
Many of the symptoms of overwatering — wilting, yellowing leaves, drooping stems — look almost identical to those of underwatering, which is why so many people respond by reaching for the watering can again.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Sacbee.com, 29 Apr. 2026
The disease in deer is often characterized by progressive weight loss, stumbling, lack of coordination, listlessness, drooping ears, excessive drooling or thirst and a lack of fear of humans.
—Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 28 Apr. 2026
When those fragrant, drooping, purple clusters of blooms appear in April, the bees and I can't get enough.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 28 Apr. 2026
Renowned for its extended bloom period, this lovely flower boasts daisy-like blossoms with prominent orange-brown centers and drooping lavender-purple petals.
—Sj McShane, Martha Stewart, 16 Apr. 2026
Potential risks include botulism (a medical emergency), spread of the toxin beyond the injection site, drooping eyelids and other harmful reactions.
—Kimi Robinson, USA Today, 2 Apr. 2026
Its owner is a charismatic cowboy over 6 feet tall with slightly drooping jowls and bright blue eyes, a community fixture and something of a local legend.
—Shi En Kim, AZCentral.com, 26 Mar. 2026
Paramylodon harlani was not like today’s cutesy tree sloths, drooping in the jungle canopy.
—John Metcalfe, Mercury News, 18 Mar. 2026
Noun
If the arteries are leading to the brain, symptoms may involve sudden numbness or weakness in the arms or legs, trouble speaking, slurred speech, sudden or temporary vision loss in one eye or facial drooping.
—Charles Trepany, USA Today, 6 May 2026
Engineers hired by the association reported concrete defects, a drooping balcony, loose fire sprinkler joints causing leaks, and corrosion and cracks in the seawall.
—Larry Seward, CBS News, 1 May 2026
Right whales, with their characteristic drooping dorsal fin, are most often seen along the Eastern Seaboard, but over the past few years two of them were spotted in the Gulf, one with a calf.
—Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 Apr. 2026
If the plant’s leaves start turning yellow, drooping, or curling, that is an indication of overwatering.
—Charlie Vargas, Oc Register, 18 Mar. 2026
Curling, drooping, or yellowing leaves can indicate overwatering, while drooping and wilting leaves indicate underwatering.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 7 Mar. 2026
Low indoor humidity and sudden temperature changes can cause drooping stems.
—Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 Feb. 2026
The ship was said to have experienced weakening metal parts that eventually fully fractured from the waves; and intense pressure at the ship's midsection that caused drooping of the bow and stern all combined with severe weather, according to the Presque Isle County Historical Museum.
—Sarah Moore, Freep.com, 4 Nov. 2025
Verb
Start with tall bluebonnet stems on the left, fill the middle with medium-height ornamental onions, and finish the arrangement with softly drooping sweet peas on the right.
—Maria Sabella, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Apr. 2026
Many of the symptoms of overwatering — wilting, yellowing leaves, drooping stems — look almost identical to those of underwatering, which is why so many people respond by reaching for the watering can again.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Sacbee.com, 29 Apr. 2026
The disease in deer is often characterized by progressive weight loss, stumbling, lack of coordination, listlessness, drooping ears, excessive drooling or thirst and a lack of fear of humans.
—Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 28 Apr. 2026
When those fragrant, drooping, purple clusters of blooms appear in April, the bees and I can't get enough.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 28 Apr. 2026
Renowned for its extended bloom period, this lovely flower boasts daisy-like blossoms with prominent orange-brown centers and drooping lavender-purple petals.
—Sj McShane, Martha Stewart, 16 Apr. 2026
Potential risks include botulism (a medical emergency), spread of the toxin beyond the injection site, drooping eyelids and other harmful reactions.
—Kimi Robinson, USA Today, 2 Apr. 2026
Its owner is a charismatic cowboy over 6 feet tall with slightly drooping jowls and bright blue eyes, a community fixture and something of a local legend.
—Shi En Kim, AZCentral.com, 26 Mar. 2026
Paramylodon harlani was not like today’s cutesy tree sloths, drooping in the jungle canopy.
—John Metcalfe, Mercury News, 18 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for drooping
Noun
-
And how some close to him bristled when asked questions about his authoritarian streak and his departure from organizing, distractions that left the union’s power flagging.—
James Rainey,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Mar. 2026
-
But among the favorite cyclical sectors entering the year, only industrials have truly continued to lead, with financials and consumer discretionary flagging.—
Michael Santoli,
CNBC,
2 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
This week, Carlos Alcaraz took over clay season without hitting a ball, a very patriotic fuel source was key to one player’s Italian Open run and the lawsuit hanging over professional tennis took a new twist.—
Ava Wallace,
New York Times,
18 May 2026
-
For care, the brand recommends machine-washing with a gentle cycle then hanging it to air-dry.—
Clara McMahon,
PEOPLE,
17 May 2026
Verb
-
The cushions will stay bouncy thanks to sinuous springs that prevent sagging over time.—
Christina Shepherd McGuire,
PEOPLE,
10 May 2026
-
This is infused in extra-large toner pads for deep firming hydration to refine pores, smooth texture, and visibly lift sagging skin all in one gentle swipe.—
Rosa Jisoo Pyo,
Vogue,
8 May 2026
Adjective
-
James O’Donoghue, a planetary scientist with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, likened our planet’s tilting phenomenon to a nodding head.—
Aylin Woodward,
WSJ,
21 Dec. 2021
Noun
-
However, his own attempts to calculate a scientific law of human exhaustion were similarly dubious.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
12 May 2026
-
Two high-profile shows at the same time—and yet, her countenance displays no sign of exhaustion.—
Dennis Braatz,
Condé Nast Traveler,
11 May 2026
Verb
-
While fading blooms typically wilt or go limp, wilting of foliage or plant stems is a sign the plant is water stressed.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
9 May 2026
-
Avoid placing rugs in prolonged direct sunlight as this can cause fading.—
Audrey Lee,
Architectural Digest,
8 May 2026
Adjective
-
And every day, across from them, outside the clinic, about to enter or just leaving, there were women hugging each other and weeping.—
David Mamet,
National Review,
11 Aug. 2022
-
The show manages to stay on the brink — always laughing, never quite weeping — for its entire length.—
Helen Shaw,
Vulture,
8 Dec. 2021
Noun
-
With the Bulls’ season limping toward a finish and the transfer portal opening tomorrow, Chapel Hill clearly didn’t want to wait.—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
6 Apr. 2026
-
The chopper flew across New York harbor and landed at a Manhattan heliport, where Maduro, limping, was loaded into an armored vehicle.—
Michael R. Sisak,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Drooping.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/drooping. Accessed 18 May. 2026.
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