wasting (away) 1 of 2

noun

Definition of wasting (away)next
as in failing

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wasting (away)

2 of 2

verb

present participle of waste (away)
as in weakening
to lose bodily strength or vigor the tuberculosis resulted in her simply wasting away

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for wasting (away)
  1. failing
  2. weakening
  3. worsening
  4. fading
  5. deterioration
  6. sagging
  7. sinking
  8. going
Noun
  • These reported failings include understaffing, undertrained employees, and failure to listen to parental concerns, the BBC reported at the time.
    — Scharon Harding, ArsTechnica, 22 Sep. 2026
  • Sussman is inclined to see such preferences as further evidence of capitalism’s moral failings.
    — Margaret Talbot, New Yorker, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of failing
Verb
  • Deterioration is exacerbated if water reaches the steel rebar, corroding from inside the concrete mass and thereby weakening the integrity of the wall.
    — Jeffrey Weiss, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026
  • Those states’ experiences show that weakening graduation requirements reduces accountability for schools.
    — Neetu Arnold, Washington Post, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of weakening
Noun
  • Faster diagnosis can help people with early-stage Alzheimer’s qualify for drugs that can modestly slow the worsening of their symptoms.
    — Lauran Neergaard, Los Angeles Times, 15 Sep. 2026
  • Indonesia has pledged to keep subsidized fuel prices unchanged through 2026, which may strain the budget if oil prices rise again due to supply disruptions or a worsening of military confrontations.
    — Celestine Iyer, CNBC, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of worsening
Verb
  • Fixed on a mobile rig that will at times careen and whoosh across the stage when not otherwise holding on Winter, Anderson’s camera catches the expressionism and chiaroscuro of stage lights illuminating and fading off the singer’s face.
    — Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 2 Oct. 2026
  • But hopes of winning the two states have been fading, and the GOP is increasingly focused on playing defense elsewhere with five weeks until the midterm elections.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of fading
Noun
  • Flores is seeking release largely because of what her lawyers describe as a serious deterioration in her health while in federal custody.
    — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 25 Sep. 2026
  • Imagine a system that flags hundreds of concerns but cannot distinguish meaningful deterioration from routine variation.
    — Arpan Saxena, Forbes.com, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of deterioration
Verb
  • According to the brand, the serum can start to visibly tighten sagging skin in as little as two weeks.
    — Jenny Berg, Vogue, 28 Sep. 2026
  • Hook the mask onto your ear to take advantage of the lifting design that targets dry, sagging mature skin.
    — Essence Wiley, InStyle, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of sagging
Noun
  • The sinking wasn't reported for a full day, officials said this week, and the number of people on board was unclear for several days.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 18 Sep. 2026
  • South Gate’s rain-sodden float depicted a floral Titanic sinking alongside the killer iceberg.
    — Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 17 Sep. 2026
Definition of sinking
Verb
  • The morning commute on I-80 declined from Rocklin ahead of the Capitol City Freeway split going toward I-5.
    — Corey Schmidt, Sacbee.com, 1 Oct. 2026
  • Their resilience is, frankly, the thing that keeps the rest of us going.
    — Philip Weinberg, Forbes.com, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of going
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.

Browse Nearby Words

wasting
wasting (away)
was (to)
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Cite this Entry

“Wasting (away).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wasting%20%28away%29. Accessed 4 Oct. 2026.

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