PERISH Synonyms: 98 Similar and Opposite Words

perish

verb

ˈper-ish

Definition of perish

as in to die

to stop living 12 people perished in the plane crash

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to disintegrate

chiefly British to go through decomposition after being left out in the summer heat, the milk perished and had to be thrown out

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 perish The couple perished in an Oregon highway crash in November 2025. — Eric MacK , Bill Melugin, FOXNews.com, 26 Oct. 2026 The organization had been personally impacted – two employees’ sons worked for Cantor Fitzgerald and perished in the North Tower. — Don Riddell, CNN Money, 26 Oct. 2026 In the film, Carrie impales Margaret (Piper Laurie) with flying kitchen knives, crucified within a door frame, before perishing herself. — ArsTechnica, 21 Oct. 2026 Eons ago a star up to 30 times the mass of our sun collapsed and perished, forming a black hole. — Robin George Andrews, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for perish

Recent Examples of Synonyms for perish

Verb

At this time Randy Lawson is filling the spot left open after Tommy Boyer died.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 4 Nov. 2026
Gallagher was elected in June to serve out the term of longtime Northern California congressman Doug LaMalfa, who died suddenly early this year.

— Andrew Graham, Sacbee.com, 4 Nov. 2026

Definition of die

Verb

Gouzer is confident that Nara’s auction record will eventually fall.

— Daniel Cassady for ARTnews, Robb Report, 4 Nov. 2026
Meanwhile, the Exporters Western Cape, a lobby group, told Ramaphosa before the decision that the province’s exports to the US had already fallen 41% with particularly steep declines in juice, grapes and citrus.

— Tiisetso Motsoeneng, semafor.com, 4 Nov. 2026

Definition of fall

Verb

Loggers found the teenagers’ decomposing bodies in the forest, one of them tied to a tree with electrical wire, prosecutors said.

— Michael McGough, Sacbee.com, 5 Nov. 2026
Fall leaves create a natural mulch, which helps suppress weeds and improves the soil with organic matter as the leaves decompose.

— Tim Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 1 Nov. 2026

Definition of decompose

Verb

Only the great ones don’t succumb to coasting once they get paid, the Jordans, Kobes, LeBrons, Wades, Birds, Magics.

— Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 6 Nov. 2026
The real-life drama, shot by Mike Eley, stars Scott as Ian Charleson, the Scottish actor best known for Chariots of Fire, who in the last days of his life before succumbing to AIDS, threw himself into a final stage performance of Hamlet.

— Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 6 Nov. 2026

Definition of succumb

Verb

This realistic artificial harvest pack will never rot and is great for accenting a dinner table or place setting, adding a festive flair to any occasion.

— BestReviews, Chicago Tribune, 5 Nov. 2026
Don’t mound mulch up against the base of shrubs, flowers, and trees, or pests, rot, and fungus can become an issue.

— Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 4 Nov. 2026

Definition of rot

Verb

One thing that decaying wood releases is carbon, which is part of the natural process that stabilizes climates in the long-term.

— Pamm Cooper, Hartford Courant, 8 Nov. 2026
It will be powered by a Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator (RTG) reactor, which relies on heat generated by a decaying nuclear isotope, and so does not rely on solar power for energy.

— Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 Nov. 2026