as in dying
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1
as in falling
to stop living
12 people perished in the plane crash
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in decaying
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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of perishing
Chicago Tribune, 25 Mar. 2026
Celebrate steady financial progress rather than perishing in pursuit of perfection.
—Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 10 Mar. 2026
Those who didn’t die onboard eventually tried to walk to across the frozen waters to mainland Canada, perishing on their journey.
—Katherine McLaughlin, Architectural Digest, 10 Feb. 2026
The goo stops them from perishing, and the two embrace in a hug.
—Lea Veloso, StyleCaster, 26 Dec. 2025
Many researchers also hypothesize that aviation trailblazer Earhart did not crash her plane at sea, but instead landed and was stranded on Nikumaroro Island, later perishing there.
—Ashley J. Dimella, FOXNews.com, 10 Dec. 2025
Bohlin said that the Swedish Board of Agriculture would procure emergency stockpiling of grain in northern Sweden, which would be circulated so as not to disrupt market mechanisms and to avoid stocks perishing.
—Brendan Cole, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Oct. 2025
The boys didn't always survive their adventures, with one perishing from a snake bite and another drowning in a Bolivian flood.
—ArsTechnica, 17 Sep. 2025
Verb
If the Tribune cannot find the story in the tragic events of a young, dedicated firefighter perishing in an arson fire while searching for victims to rescue, maybe leave this story for the journalists who managed to treat the victims of this story with dignity.
—Chicago Tribune, 25 Mar. 2026
Celebrate steady financial progress rather than perishing in pursuit of perfection.
—Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 10 Mar. 2026
Those who didn’t die onboard eventually tried to walk to across the frozen waters to mainland Canada, perishing on their journey.
—Katherine McLaughlin, Architectural Digest, 10 Feb. 2026
The goo stops them from perishing, and the two embrace in a hug.
—Lea Veloso, StyleCaster, 26 Dec. 2025
Many researchers also hypothesize that aviation trailblazer Earhart did not crash her plane at sea, but instead landed and was stranded on Nikumaroro Island, later perishing there.
—Ashley J. Dimella, FOXNews.com, 10 Dec. 2025
Bohlin said that the Swedish Board of Agriculture would procure emergency stockpiling of grain in northern Sweden, which would be circulated so as not to disrupt market mechanisms and to avoid stocks perishing.
—Brendan Cole, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Oct. 2025
The boys didn't always survive their adventures, with one perishing from a snake bite and another drowning in a Bolivian flood.
—ArsTechnica, 17 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for perishing
Noun
-
Music, food, ie-dying, a spring ephemeral walk and introduction to environmental volunteering will be available.—
Melinda Moore,
Chicago Tribune,
8 Apr. 2026
-
The only reprieve, a narrow window of time after the dose wore off and before the dying began.—
Nick Romano,
Entertainment Weekly,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
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By 2025, Anderson — then 59 and nearing completion of her bachelor’s degree — was failing classes and falling behind on bills.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
14 Apr. 2026
-
The Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) says lead paint is falling from six Baltimore-area bridges and contaminating waterways.—
Adam Thompson,
CBS News,
14 Apr. 2026
Verb
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All of this will be powered by a Multi-Mission Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator (MMRTG) that converts the heat of decaying plutonium into electricity; this is commonly used on deep-space missions.—
Phil Plait,
Scientific American,
10 Apr. 2026
-
Remove decaying leaves from containers and empty out the saucers after watering.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
10 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Before his death, Mikhail had told sheriff’s deputies that he had been jumped in September by eight gun-wielding individuals, including Elijah, at the YMCA basketball courts near Oak Ridge High School.—
Silas Morgan,
The Orlando Sentinel,
16 Apr. 2026
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Gilbert's remains were found in December 2011 -- her death is later ruled as an accidental drowning.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Turns out you don’t have to suffer rotting flesh to be undead.—
Courtney Crowder,
USA Today,
10 Apr. 2026
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Bury the rotting food in the center of the compost pile and add a thick layer of brown material on top.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The meteor was moving southwest at 30,000 miles per hour and traveled 117 miles through the upper atmosphere before disintegrating 27 miles above the town of Galloway north of Atlantic City, New Jersey, according to NASA.—
Kate Perez,
USA Today,
8 Apr. 2026
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Last year, the Dominican Republic deported more than 100,000 Haitians back to their disintegrating country.—
George Packer,
The Atlantic,
24 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Marcos then laughed off rumors of his demise and said he had been diagnosed with diverticulitis.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Apr. 2026
-
Crowds also gathered across the street on Indian Creek Drive to see the building’s demise.—
Miami Herald Archives,
Miami Herald,
13 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The rule requires landfills to control methane emissions from decomposing waste.—
Shaun Boyd,
CBS News,
14 Apr. 2026
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Drainage problems and decomposing leaves and mulch will quickly attract them.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
10 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Perishing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/perishing. Accessed 17 Apr. 2026.
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