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 Pries’s suggestion, known as the inverse Galois problem, was inspired by the work of the 19th-century French mathematician Évariste Galois, who perished after he was wounded in a gun duel at age 20. — Lyndie Chiou, Scientific American, 22 Sep. 2026 As a result, more people have now died of environmental illnesses that followed the September 11 attacks than perished during the collapse of the towers that day. — Brenda Goodman, CNN Money, 19 Sep. 2026 Not just the 2,977 deaths of innocent, often brave people — the workers trapped in the towers, the first responders who perished in an attempt to rescue them, the passengers aboard United Flight 93 who fought back against the hijackers. — Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 Sep. 2026 Timothy Stackpole, who perished while trying to rescue others at the World Trade Center, to stand and accept applause from the crowd. — Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 11 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for perish

Recent Examples of Synonyms for perish

Verb

Composer Ghulam Mohammed died in 1968 after writing the songs, leaving Naushad to complete the background score.

— Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 14 Oct. 2026
Ryder’s Law was reintroduced this year after another carriage horse collapsed and died in Central Park, and in a separate incident, tourist Romanch Mahajan, 18, died after falling off a carriage after the operator lost control.

— Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of die

Verb

Some classic stuffing recipes call for plain white bread, which will likely absorb too much moisture and disintegrate.

— Kendra Vaculin, Bon Appetit Magazine, 14 Oct. 2026
Whatever one believes about the allegations against the couple, the devastation of watching an academic and media career disintegrate in real time is difficult to dismiss.

— Shamira Ibrahim, Vulture, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of disintegrate

Verb

But the opening period didn’t end without a scary moment, as Antetokounmpo fell hard on his back side after being fouled on a dunk attempt late in the first quarter.

— Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 15 Oct. 2026
Shares of Oracle fell about 9% amid a broader downturn for stocks of top AI stakeholders.

— Dade Hayes, Deadline, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of fall

Verb

The first responding officer opened one of the suitcases and discovered a woman's decomposing body -- naked, bound with rope and in a fetal position.

— ABC News, ABC News, 16 Oct. 2026
Remnants of a wooden spear weren’t found near the Neanderthal’s remains, which is understandable since the material often decomposes so quickly.

— Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of decompose

Verb

As more and more people succumb to AI psychosis, horror movies are (as always) the first to dive into the repercussions.

— K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 16 Oct. 2026
The pair had a fractured, even abusive, relationship, depicted in a series of flashbacks, until Mitt chose to end his life in the sea rather than succumb to a terminal case of cancer.

— David Mack, CNN Money, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of succumb

Verb

In recent years, many grape growers have left fruit to rot on vines, and many winemakers have product sitting in tanks.

— Lizzie Kane, Sacbee.com, 16 Oct. 2026
The bacteria comes from a variety of sources, including soil, water, sewage, rotting vegetation and animals, according to the FDA.

— Eva Flowe October 15, Charlotte Observer, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of rot

Verb

Wrens, chickadees, titmice, thrushes and nuthatches all forage either through the leaf canopy or the slowly decaying ground litter for beetles, caterpillars, spiders, ants and other insects.

— Karen Hugg, Washington Post, 11 Oct. 2026
Although a horrifying sea creature sits at the center of the show, this story is about a man desperate to cling to a decaying past, a grieving family and how greed can create monsters.

— Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 8 Oct. 2026