Synonyms of perishing

perishing 1 of 2

noun

as in dying

Related Words

• dying
• death
• decease
• demise
• wilting
• withering
• expiration
• fading
• exit
• expiry
• waning
• expiring
• shriveling
• end
• ebbing
• reversion
• retrogression
• decay
• regression
• declining
• decaying
• deterioration
• degeneration
• decadence
• decline
• declension
• descent

Dissimilar Words

• growth
• maturing
• development
• maturation
• ripening
• flowering
• flourishing
• blossoming
• softening
• mellowing

perishing

2 of 2

verb

present participle of perish

1

as in falling

to stop living

12 people perished in the plane crash

Synonyms & Similar Words

• dying
• falling
• succumbing
• departing
• disappearing
• expiring
• exiting
• ending
• fading
• passing (on)
• parting
• going
• passing away
• checking out
• buying it
• stepping out
• croaking
• deceasing
• kicking off
• demising
• kicking in
• dropping
• popping off
• pegging out
• snuffing it
• flatlining
• giving up the ghost
• kicking the bucket
• failing
• biting the dust
• conking (out)
• consuming
• predeceasing
• drying up

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• living
• breathing
• coming to
• existing
• reviving
• being
• lingering
• subsisting
• flourishing
• thriving
• prospering

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• decaying
• rotting
• disintegrating
• decomposing
• putrefying
• deteriorating
• spoiling
• corrupting
• crumbling
• festering
• falling apart
• molding
• descending
• moldering
• fouling
• turning
• breaking down
• rusting
• polluting
• contaminating
• going to seed
• degenerating
• souring
• fermenting
• mortifying
• withering
• sinking
• defiling
• tainting
• curdling
• declining
• turning off
• addling
• dilapidating

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• growing
• aging
• developing
• maturing
• ripening
• restoring
• renewing
• cleansing
• purifying
• improving
• integrating
• refreshing
• assembling
• composing
• ameliorating
• bettering
• meliorating

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of perishing

Verb

This summer has been a deadly one in Europe, with over 10,000 people perishing in the extreme heat over just a few weeks. — Morgan Simon, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026

Julie Chen Moonves shares her thoughts on that wild Big Brother premiere, including Rachel Reilly perishing in a volcano. — Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 10 July 2026

Authorities have publicly identified four people who lost their lives over the last week in San Diego County traffic crashes, with three of the victims perishing in head-on collisions in the eastern reaches of the region. — City News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 May 2026

Singh raised his second straight half-century off just 23 balls with eight fours and a six while Iyer brought up his fifty of 31 balls and smacked Thakur four two consecutive sixes before perishing when Dhir took a stunning catch at deep mid-wicket. — ABC News, 16 Apr. 2026

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