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

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 However, his second wife, Alicent Hightower (played as a young girl by Emily Carey and as an adult by Olivia Cooke), interprets his incoherent dying words as a change of heart in favor of her son, Aegon II Targaryen (played as a child by Ty Tennant and as an adult by Tom Glynn-Carney). — Encyclopedia Britannica, 22 June 2026 After the woman departed the cruise liner where the hantavirus outbreak occurred, the ship continued to other destinations in the South Atlantic, with some passengers falling ill and at least three dying. — Matthew Lee, Los Angeles Times, 11 June 2026 Louis begged Lestat to turn a dying, human Claudia into a vampire, and the two then adopted her as a sort of daughter. — Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 7 June 2026 The imprecision in his birthdate, which differs from the singularness in the date of his death, feels like an open wound where the dying is more certain than the living. — Literary Hub, 2 June 2026 But the dying throws a wrench into it. — David Manheim, Rolling Stone, 20 May 2026

Verb

But hundreds of people in the US are still dying from Covid-19 each month. — Deidre McPhillips, CNN Money, 4 Aug. 2026 Measles can be a deadly disease, with two children dying last year after having been infected. — Omer Awan, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2026 Even if their leaves have been dying from the bottom up, this is often due to undiagnosed spider mites, which are treated by blasting the leaves with a strong jet of water every couple of days. — Anthony Reardon, Kansas City Star, 2 Aug. 2026 He is regarded in his Carrollton, Georgia, community as a skilful and reliable value in a dying industry. — Tom Campbell, New York Times, 1 Aug. 2026 As Ortegon-Couoh lay dying from gunshot wounds, the people around him offered no assistance, according to eyewitness accounts. — Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 31 July 2026 On both, as ever, his illegible mumble suggests shame in his own voice, or even guilt about being here at all (some of his enduring illnesses relate to PTSD from cradling a dying friend in his lap after a gang attack as a teen). — Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 30 July 2026 The effect was named after Nelson Mandela, who many people seemed to remember dying in the 1980s while in prison in South Africa; he actually had been released from jail, served as President of South Africa and died in 2013. — Victoria Edel, PEOPLE, 27 July 2026 The incomparable Michelle Yeoh stars as Olwen, the dying Replicant, along with Hunter Schafer (Euphoria) as Cora. — ArsTechnica, 25 July 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for dying

Adjective

Crews remained at the scene to help the power company with the fallen pole, the department said.

— Mark Price July 27, Charlotte Observer, 27 July 2026
Aemond finds himself at the mercy of the Harrenhal witch, Alys Rivers, while Aegon and Larys continue their misadventures near Rook’s Rest, where the fallen and crippled king must, for once, learn some humility.

— Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 26 July 2026

Definition of fallen

Noun

Metro Fire officials were assisting the Rancho Cordova Police Department, which is leading the investigation into the woman’s death.

— Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 30 July 2026
As the community mourns the teenager, his death has also fueled calls for better access to mental health resources for young people.

— Lauren Mascarenhas, CNN Money, 30 July 2026

Definition of death

Verb

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
Authorities have publicly identified four people who lost their lives over the last week in San Diego County traffic crashes, with three of the victims perishing in head-on collisions in the eastern reaches of the region.

— City News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 May 2026

Definition of perishing

Verb

Gabby Williams and Tiffany Hayes scored 15 points apiece in the first of back-to-back matchups between the teams at Chase Center, where a raucous sellout crowd cheered Golden State ending a two-game skid that followed a nine-game winning streak.

— ABC News, ABC News, 2 Aug. 2026
That could prove to be true after all thanks to the improbable return of Owens, who shocked the world by coming back just a year and a half after what appeared to be career-ending neck surgery.

— Blake Oestriecher, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2026

Definition of ending

Verb

However, during the 13 weeks the request was under review, her name appeared weekly on a list of employees flagged for failing to follow the return-to-work policy, according to her lawsuit.

— Chase Jordan July 30, Charlotte Observer, 30 July 2026
The witness said Richardson’s vehicle was failing to stay in the proper lane and was getting close to a concrete median, according to the affidavit.

— Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 July 2026

Definition of failing

Adjective

Despite continued life-saving efforts by first responders, the girl was pronounced dead before she could be airlifted to a hospital.

— Richard Ramos, CBS News, 1 Aug. 2026
Investigators declared the driver of the white SUV, a 53-year-old man, dead at the scene, Moncayo said.

— Caroline Zimmerman, Kansas City Star, 1 Aug. 2026

Definition of dead

Noun

Goodwill of Silicon Valley signed a lease for a new San Jose store in a deal that enables the nonprofit to expand and fill a space that became vacant due to the demise of a nationwide retailer.

— George Avalos, Mercury News, 31 July 2026
By that point, there was little time left in the production for his actual demise.

— Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 29 July 2026

Definition of demise

Verb

Global markets were also mixed, with South Korea’s Kospi stock index falling another 6% Wednesday as doubts over massive investments in artificial intelligence once again led investors to dump chipmakers’ shares.

— Yuri Kageyama, Fortune, 29 July 2026
Hikers in an area of the San Bernardino National Forest are being warned of falling rocks after one woman was injured, and another woman died after she was suspected to have been hit in the head by a large boulder.

— Paris Barraza, USA Today, 29 July 2026

Definition of falling

Cite this Entry

Style

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

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Synonyms of dying

adjective

noun

verb

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