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
Items movers won’t transport Interstate movers typically refuse to transport items that may perish, pose safety risks, or create legal issues.
—
Nancy Ashburn, Encyclopedia Britannica, 19 May 2026
The vast majority of people in Pompeii and Herculaneum—the cities hardest hit—perished from asphyxiation, choking on the thick clouds of noxious gas and ash.
—ArsTechnica, 18 May 2026
On the outskirts of Jisr al-Shughur, high on a hill, among green shrubs lie the graves of hundreds of Uyghur fighters who perished fighting the Assad regime.
—Emily Feng, NPR, 17 May 2026
That fire also claimed the life of Lance Garcia, 25, who perished saving his mother, who remains hospitalized in critical condition, unaware that her son made the ultimate sacrifice.
—Emma Seiwell, New York Daily News, 16 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for perish
Nancy Ashburn, Encyclopedia Britannica, 19 May 2026
The vast majority of people in Pompeii and Herculaneum—the cities hardest hit—perished from asphyxiation, choking on the thick clouds of noxious gas and ash.
—ArsTechnica, 18 May 2026
On the outskirts of Jisr al-Shughur, high on a hill, among green shrubs lie the graves of hundreds of Uyghur fighters who perished fighting the Assad regime.
—Emily Feng, NPR, 17 May 2026
That fire also claimed the life of Lance Garcia, 25, who perished saving his mother, who remains hospitalized in critical condition, unaware that her son made the ultimate sacrifice.
—Emma Seiwell, New York Daily News, 16 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for perish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for perish
Verb
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Marcia Lucas, Academy Award-winning film editor, died at the age of 80, AP News reports.—
Alejandra Gularte,
Vulture,
30 May 2026
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Kelly Curtis, an actress, documentarian and daughter of Tony Curtis and Janet Leigh, died Saturday morning, her younger sister, Jamie Lee Curtis, announced.—
Mike Barnes,
HollywoodReporter,
30 May 2026
Verb
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Note that the sponge will disintegrate with use, just like a pencil eraser.—
Jolie Kerr,
Better Homes & Gardens,
30 May 2026
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The damage from our disintegrating democracy demands attention — and now.—
Elizabeth Keifer,
Hartford Courant,
29 May 2026
Verb
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Demuth led the field through four ballots, but after Lindell failed to advance to the fifth ballot, Qualls took the lead and the number of votes cast fell.—
Jimmy Lovrien,
Twin Cities,
31 May 2026
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In a recent interview with The Times of London, Niall Horan opened up about the death of his former One Direction bandmate Liam Payne, who died in 2024 at the age of 31 after falling three floors from a hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina.—
Jack Dunn,
Variety,
30 May 2026
Verb
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One of the latest challenges is hydrogen sulfide – a foul-smelling gas given off by decomposing bat droppings inside the chamber, that caused some crew members to faint, Kengkad told CNN.—
Kocha Olarn,
CNN Money,
28 May 2026
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Microbes create oxygen in the atmosphere, decompose waste material, and help plants absorb nutrients.—
Shayla Love,
New Yorker,
28 May 2026
Verb
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How to Tackle Lawn Fungus Whether or not your lawn succumbs to a fungal disease is not entirely within your control.—
David Beaulieu,
The Spruce,
28 May 2026
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Yet succumbing to hubris is now more dangerous than ever.—
William Pesek,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2026
Verb
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Also, consider applying a lawn fungicide to help prevent rot problems.—
Tom MacCubbin,
The Orlando Sentinel,
30 May 2026
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My rotting greens won’t save anyone.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
29 May 2026
Verb
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The only thing that could apparently harm them was proximity to decaying tissues of other species.—
Jacek Krywko,
ArsTechnica,
29 May 2026
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Since then, sediment and decaying organic matter have built up at the bottom of the lake, dropping the average water depth to less than 2½ feet, according to a city staff report about the project.—
R. Christian Smith,
Chicago Tribune,
27 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Perish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/perish. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.
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