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

Relevance

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 This was a simpler and more secure replacement, though the elastic did tend to perish rather quickly in wet or tropical conditions. — David Szondy august 30, New Atlas, 30 Aug. 2026 Airport officials had earlier said one employee had perished, with six workers infected. — CBS News, 28 Aug. 2026 Aphrodite Tsairis, whose daughter, Alexia, perished on Flight 103, had planned to travel to Washington for the start of the trial, along with other family members of victims. — ABC News, 25 Aug. 2026 Before the service began, a worshiper read aloud the names of some 200 parishioners who perished. — Mery Mogollón, Los Angeles Times, 14 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for perish

Recent Examples of Synonyms for perish

Verb

Hanna also experienced tragedy, when one of her horses died in transit.

— Danielle Rossingh, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026
Mamdani’s plan to join families of those who died during the attacks has been met with significant pushback.

— Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 8 Sep. 2026

Definition of die

Verb

The key to why scores are falling so widely may be found in an accompanying survey taken by students.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 10 Sep. 2026
Volatility tends to ease in November, with the VIX falling around 4% as the midterm results remove a key political overhang and provide investors with greater clarity on the policy backdrop, said James Ooi, market strategist at Tiger Brokers.

— Joanna Ossinger,Justina Lee, CNBC, 10 Sep. 2026

Definition of fall

Verb

But the situation is far more tragic, with videos on social media showing dozens of coffins lined up beside mass graves, awaiting burial before the bodies decompose in the heat.

— ABC News, ABC News, 3 Sep. 2026
The body itself was badly decomposed after spending an unknown amount of time exposed to the elements, with animals, bugs and rain, plus 50 years in storage.

— Taylor Romine, CNN Money, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of decompose

Verb

Flies buzz over the rotting carcass, which is riven by claw marks so unnaturally deep that no one can determine whomauledit.

— Justin Chang, New Yorker, 4 Sep. 2026
They shouldn’t be stored below 45 degrees because chilling can cause internal damage and eventually contribute to breakdown and rot, explains Gregorie.

— Lynn Andriani, Martha Stewart, 4 Sep. 2026

Definition of rot

Verb

The book takes on the form of a journal by Utsugi, an aging patriarch, who, recovering from a stroke, discovers that while his body is decaying, his libido rages on.

— Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 4 Sep. 2026
Some detest the compost odor; others say decaying food attracts rats.

— Emily Staunton, Christian Science Monitor, 2 Sep. 2026