DYING Synonyms: 169 Similar and Opposite Words

dying 1 of 3

adjective

ˈdī-iŋ

Definition of dying

as in fallen

nearly dead we watered the dying plants just in time

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

dying

2 of 3

noun

as in death

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

dying

3 of 3

verb

present participle of die

as in perishing

to stop living the king died of old age after a long and fruitful reign

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in ending

to come to an end the storm died just as dawn was breaking over the horizon

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in failing

to stop functioning fortunately, when the engine died we were only two blocks from home

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

starting (up)

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 dying

Adjective

What’s the vibe for you, post-dying? — Sean T. Collins, Vulture, 22 June 2026 Garden centers aren't giving a refund for a dying or dead plant but rather a discount on a new purchase. — Lauren David, Southern Living, 17 Dec. 2025

Noun

Formal rites for the dying, already limited, were further truncated or skipped entirely. — Literary Hub, 28 Sep. 2026 Her sister, Lydia (Alejandra Flechner), accuses her of being a better caregiver to the dying than the living. — Ben Travers, IndieWire, 24 Sep. 2026 As many people who care for a dying loved one know all too well, the grieving process started for Bullock long before Randall died. — Bethy Squires, Vulture, 19 Aug. 2026 In contrast, those with all three conditions averaged just 17 years before developing dementia or dying. — Khloe Quill, FOXNews.com, 10 Aug. 2026 Advertisement In the final phase of dying—a period Barbara Karnes, a hospice nurse and educator since the 1970s, calls labor—many people become nonresponsive. — Angela Haupt, Time, 5 Aug. 2026 But does a basil plant covered in black spots mean its dying? — Heather Bien, The Spruce, 26 July 2026 Due to such discomfort – or for other reasons – people often delay making plans for their own dying process. — Jane Callahan, The Conversation, 14 July 2026 Tis hard to see the mighty prancing war horse, trampling the dying and dead beneath their merciless feet. — Rose Horowitch, The Atlantic, 8 July 2026

Verb

Images of hospitals overwhelmed with the sick and dying flooded our consciousness. — Literary Hub, 28 Sep. 2026 From screenwriter Eric Champnella and set in 2008, Return to You follows a powerful but lonely female attorney (Lohan) who mistakenly receives a very emotional DVD sent by a dying woman to her husband (Golding). — Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 28 Sep. 2026 Carbon Monoxide and Smoke Detectors Nearly every homeowner recognizes the incessant chirp that indicates a dying battery in a carbon monoxide or smoke detector, but few know that the units themselves should be replaced after 7 to 10 years. — Kamron Sanders, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 Sep. 2026 On Friday, the pope strongly reiterated the Church's pro-life teachings, criticizing initiatives to allow assisted dying for those who have incurable illnesses. — Joshua McElwee, Arkansas Online, 26 Sep. 2026 At the same time, that also prevents us from becoming too invested in the fates of people who seem to be dying for our viewing pleasure — and sometimes one another’s. — Jordan Mintzer, HollywoodReporter, 25 Sep. 2026 Martin follows a series of steps he’s honed over the last 17 years of dying clients silver. — Maggie Ryan, Flow Space, 25 Sep. 2026 Weinstein spoke at length with the Hollywood Reporter in March about carrying out his sentence and the possibility of dying behind bars. — Alexandra Del Rosario, Los Angeles Times, 25 Sep. 2026 The journal states that laws allowing medical aid in dying permit eligible adults with terminal illnesses to self-administer medication when certain criteria are met. — Stephanie Nolasco, FOXNews.com, 24 Sep. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for dying

Adjective

Crab shells, whole and in pieces, turned up all over the school, to be swept away with the dust and fallen leaves and other litter, placed in a trash bag, and carried off behind the buildings to the incinerator.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 Sep. 2026
Romaine said crews were clearing drains and chopping up fallen trees.

— Jesse Zanger, CBS News, 27 Sep. 2026

Definition of fallen

Noun

Quavo recently opened up about how the death of his nephew and Migos groupmate Takeoff impacted his then-fractured relationship with fellow group member Offset.

— Payton Turkeltaub, Variety, 1 Oct. 2026
When the event is death or violence, forecasting is readily perceived as not only monetizing harm but possibly even incentivizing it.

— Simon Denny, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of death

Verb

This summer has been a deadly one in Europe, with over 10,000 people perishing in the extreme heat over just a few weeks.

— Morgan Simon, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026
Julie Chen Moonves shares her thoughts on that wild Big Brother premiere, including Rachel Reilly perishing in a volcano.

— Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 10 July 2026

Definition of perishing

Verb

And most experts don’t think there will be much relief for homebuyers in the next year or so, absent some big changes, such as the war in Iran ending or oil prices dramatically falling.

— Zach Halaschak, The Washington Examiner, 5 Oct. 2026
That set up Ollie Gordon II’s TD run late in the third quarter, ending Miami’s 15-possession touchdown drought.

— Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 5 Oct. 2026

Definition of ending

Verb

Another act of retaliation, the lawsuit says, is that after applying for assistant chief of technical services, Dougan was rejected for allegedly failing to meet a new suppression-credential requirement.

— Judy L. Thomas, Kansas City Star, 30 Sep. 2026
Baldwin alleged that decision was just one part of a pattern of disturbing prosecutorial abuses, including presenting false information to the grand jury, failing to disclose two firearms reports, and filing an unlawful gun enhancement.

— Gene Maddaus, Variety, 30 Sep. 2026

Definition of failing

Adjective

To assist Noah, Sinestro has also forged a new lantern from the water on this dead alien planet — imbued with Zoe’s fear toxins — causing golden cracks in the object’s surface.

— Siddhant Adlakha, Vulture, 5 Oct. 2026
Urker, who also fathered a baby girl, Aurora, with Blanchard, was found dead Thursday in Raceland, Louisiana.

— Payton Turkeltaub, Variety, 4 Oct. 2026

Definition of dead

Noun

And its sudden demise comes amidst a continuing decline in funding for cultural and scientific institutions.

— Andrew Stelzer, NPR, 3 Oct. 2026
In recent weeks, some leading AI firms have warned that their models’ coding abilities could foment humanity’s demise.

— Shun Graves, Chicago Tribune, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of demise

Verb

McGuire said the country’s murder rate is at a 126-year low and argued that falling fentanyl deaths and drug trafficking are evidence that the administration’s border and law enforcement policies are working.

— Barnini Chakraborty, The Washington Examiner, 30 Sep. 2026
Applications jumped from roughly 3,500 a year before COVID to a record 18,561 in 2024, before falling nearly 30% last year and continuing to decline in 2026.

— Michael Dorgan, FOXNews.com, 30 Sep. 2026

Definition of falling

Cite this Entry

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“Dying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dying. Accessed 5 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of dying

adjective

noun

verb

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