1
as in to die
to stop living
12 people perished in the plane crash
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of perish
Cile, 8 years old at the time, was one of the 27 children and counselors at Camp Mystic, a venerable Christian summer camp for girls, who perished in the flood.
—
Corky Siemaszko, NBC news, 6 Feb. 2026
My father worked in the garment district on Delancey Street — the same neighborhood where, decades earlier, women perished in the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire because factory owners decided safety precautions cost too much.
—Michelle A. Williams, STAT, 2 Feb. 2026
Not long after Bubba's funeral, the men who killed him begin to perish in a series of mysterious accidents.
—Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 31 Jan. 2026
The pilot, Jacob Hosmer, 47, also perished in the crash, his father, Gary, told KPRC2.
—Greg Norman-Diamond, FOXNews.com, 28 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for perish
Corky Siemaszko, NBC news, 6 Feb. 2026
My father worked in the garment district on Delancey Street — the same neighborhood where, decades earlier, women perished in the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire because factory owners decided safety precautions cost too much.
—Michelle A. Williams, STAT, 2 Feb. 2026
Not long after Bubba's funeral, the men who killed him begin to perish in a series of mysterious accidents.
—Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 31 Jan. 2026
The pilot, Jacob Hosmer, 47, also perished in the crash, his father, Gary, told KPRC2.
—Greg Norman-Diamond, FOXNews.com, 28 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for perish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for perish
Verb
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Authorities on Wednesday confirmed eight of the remaining skiers had died, with the ninth missing and presumed dead.—
Nicole Buss,
Sacbee.com,
22 Feb. 2026
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But that dream died along with her husband.—
Ivana Kottasová,
CNN Money,
22 Feb. 2026
Verb
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By 2019, Virginia photographer John Plashal caught wind of what was disintegrating on Hankins' out-of-the-way acres.—
Danielle Paquette The Washington Post,
Arkansas Online,
17 Feb. 2026
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Around the world, states were disintegrating, climate systems were approaching tipping points, economies were stagnating, and inequality was rising.—
Billy Perrigo,
Time,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The Tigers, particularly Mark Mitchell, put in a strong effort but fell short in Fayetteville, Arkansas, in a 94-86 loss.—
Maddie Hartley,
Kansas City Star,
22 Feb. 2026
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Pielmeier expects the conditions to subside in much of Switzerland over the course of next week, once the new snow has stabilized, except in the south of the country where less snow has fallen.—
Issy Ronald,
CNN Money,
22 Feb. 2026
Verb
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To prevent the fallow area from turning into a weed patch, cover it with agricultural-grade plastic or a thick layer of slowly decomposing mulch such as wood chips.—
Nadia Hassani,
The Spruce,
20 Feb. 2026
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Most paper products decompose in landfills within a couple of months, according to RecycleNation, a recycling technology company.—
Julia James,
Dallas Morning News,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
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In the coldest regions of its hardiness zone, plants can succumb to winter dieback during unusually harsh winters but generally recover well with new growth.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
19 Feb. 2026
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Some turn to suicide, succumb to addiction, or become easy targets for those who exploit vulnerability.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
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How to get rid of fruit flies To quickly eliminate fruit flies, start by thoroughly cleaning your kitchen and removing overripe or rotting fruits and vegetables.—
Tiffany Acosta,
AZCentral.com,
21 Feb. 2026
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Soft, mushy roots with a sour smell are a sign of wet rot from overwatering, which is tougher—but not impossible—to come back from.—
Alexandra Jones,
The Spruce,
21 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Importance of Cleaning Lawn Debris Before Spring Clearing your lawn of debris, such as matted leaves and branches, increases airflow, allows sunlight to penetrate, and prevents disease and pests, as decaying matter is a breeding ground for fungal diseases like snow mold.—
SJ McShane,
Martha Stewart,
21 Feb. 2026
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Over long periods of time, and sometimes very long periods of time, their orbits will decay, and the two components will inspiral and eventually merge.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
20 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Perish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/perish. Accessed 25 Feb. 2026.
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