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 But Jameson is hardly the first family pet to senselessly perish at the hands of law enforcement officers who resort to deadly force far too quickly. — Vanessa Shakib, Oc Register, 23 July 2026 At least 5,000 people perished, most of them in La Guaira state, a strip of cities and slums crammed between the coastal cordillera and the Caribbean Sea, half an hour from Caracas. — Rafael Osío Cabrices, Time, 20 July 2026 People working on ships, as well as foreign workers and others in gulf nations, Israel and Lebanon have also perished in the conflict. — Josh Boak, Los Angeles Times, 19 July 2026 The era in which the dinosaurs perished would be unrecognizable to a modern person. — Nancy Walecki, The Atlantic, 17 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for perish

Recent Examples of Synonyms for perish

Verb

Months prior, in March, heavy rains caused landslides and floods in Ethiopia’s southern Gamo Zone area, and over 100 people died.

— Charna Flam, PEOPLE, 5 Aug. 2026
Nearly 1,700 children died from Covid-19 between 2020 and 2023, CDC data shows.

— Deidre McPhillips, CNN Money, 4 Aug. 2026

Definition of die

Verb

For years, the FDA has fallen far short on meeting its modest annual goals for foreign food facility inspections, the US Government Accountability Office has found, as the agency struggled to hire and train inspectors.

— Yahya Abou-Ghazala, CNN Money, 6 Aug. 2026
On Monday, an 18-year-old was seriously injured after falling onto an elevated platform.

— Ubah Ali, CBS News, 6 Aug. 2026

Definition of fall

Verb

An investigation was underway at a Far South Side funeral home after more than 50 decomposing bodies were found in the facility.

— Todd Feurer, CBS News, 7 Aug. 2026
In 2023, nearly 200 decomposing bodies were found in a building in Colorado, and another 31 decomposing bodies were discovered at an Indiana funeral home.

— Allison Kiehl, Chicago Tribune, 7 Aug. 2026

Definition of decompose

Verb

As some of us will inevitably succumb to its grand and growing illusion, the rest may get the opportunity to find the key to understanding how so many others could be fooled and so foolish.

— Letters to the Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 9 Aug. 2026
Lifesaving measures were performed on-site, but Rebecca Marodi succumbed to her injuries.

— Matt Lavietes, NBC news, 7 Aug. 2026

Definition of succumb

Verb

The Lineage warehouse fire, which erupted a mile away nearly two months ago, still blankets the church every morning with the fetid stench of millions of pounds of rotting food that have yet to be trucked away.

— Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 8 Aug. 2026
The smell of rotting food follows Juan Canil like a second shadow.

— Celina Tebor, CNN Money, 8 Aug. 2026

Definition of rot

Verb

Authorities are investigating after human remains at a Chicago funeral home were allegedly found decaying in an unrefrigerated area infested with rodents.

— Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 8 Aug. 2026
Authorities were notified Thursday of more than 50 decaying bodies that were found improperly stored at a funeral home in Chicago, according to county officials.

— Luke Barr, ABC News, 7 Aug. 2026