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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Australia's only other fatal shark attack this year occurred in January, when a 12-year-old boy died in a hospital days after he was mauled by a bull shark in Sydney Harbor.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
6 June 2026
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In January, a 12-year-old also died a week after he was attacked by a shark in Sydney Harbor.—
Brie Stimson,
FOXNews.com,
6 June 2026
Verb
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None are quite about the conflicting frames of reference and value that arise when an ancient cultural formation disintegrates and a successor has yet to take its place.—
Becca Rothfeld,
New Yorker,
1 June 2026
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Right now, the rings furthest from the planet are disintegrating and drifting into space.—
David M. Drucker,
Twin Cities,
31 May 2026
Verb
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For the Fever, who entered the season as championship contenders, the first 10 games have fallen well short of expectations, as scrutiny continues to mount on head coach Stephanie White.—
Jackson Thompson OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
7 June 2026
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Migrant arrivals in the Canary Islands peaked in 2024 at nearly 47,000, but have fallen dramatically, with just over 2,000 people landing there in the first four months of 2026.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
6 June 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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Backfill with soil, being careful not to place the soil against the stem, as this can cause rot.—
SJ McShane,
Martha Stewart,
6 June 2026
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The insect measures just two-tenths of an inch long and nests in damp leaf litter, rotting logs and mulch, making accidental contact far more likely than with more visible species like the fire ant.—
Moná Thomas,
PEOPLE,
4 June 2026
Verb
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Hyde has McCallany playing Detective Grimes, a haunted investigator descending into the decaying underbelly of a crumbling metropolis while hunting a brutal serial killer.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
1 June 2026
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When success is no longer about who has the best product, but who has the best connections or the most aggressive lobbyists, the organism begins to decay from within.—
Nitin Gupta,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Perish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/perish. Accessed 8 Jun. 2026.
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