1
as in to droop
to be limp from lack of water or vigor
the plants wilted after I forgot to water them for three whole days
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2
as in to fade
to lose bodily strength or vigor
she had wilted a bit after walking around the hot and humid city
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3
as in to dry
to lose liveliness, force, or freshness
after six solid hours of painting, his energy was starting to wilt
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of wilt
Many of those cases have wilted under scrutiny.
—
Nicole Foy, ProPublica, 21 Oct. 2025
Now is not the time for pastors to wilt or keep our heads down, hoping against hope that we won’t be noticed.
—Rev. Nathan Empsall, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Oct. 2025
But with a World Cup on the horizon, there are important lessons to be learned about how to show cunning and not wilt against experienced players.
—Joshua Kloke, New York Times, 15 Oct. 2025
As many of the NFL’s favorites have wilted over the past month, though, the Lions have quietly built one of the best cases for Super Bowl contention by winning four straight and scoring 34 or more points in every win.
—Andrew Greif, NBC news, 12 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for wilt
Nicole Foy, ProPublica, 21 Oct. 2025
Now is not the time for pastors to wilt or keep our heads down, hoping against hope that we won’t be noticed.
—Rev. Nathan Empsall, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Oct. 2025
But with a World Cup on the horizon, there are important lessons to be learned about how to show cunning and not wilt against experienced players.
—Joshua Kloke, New York Times, 15 Oct. 2025
As many of the NFL’s favorites have wilted over the past month, though, the Lions have quietly built one of the best cases for Super Bowl contention by winning four straight and scoring 34 or more points in every win.
—Andrew Greif, NBC news, 12 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for wilt
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wilt
Verb
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The woman’s husband, a scrawny man in a shabby work uniform, smelling of sewage, drooped behind the gurney.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
23 Oct. 2025
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Signs of overwatering include drooping, wilting, or yellowing leaves.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
12 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Mankinlu Maple Leaf Solar Pathway Lights As daylight starts to fade earlier, these cute pathway lights add both charm and function to your yard.—
Mariana Best,
Better Homes & Gardens,
25 Oct. 2025
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The Trail Blazers faded in the fourth quarter en route to a 118-114 loss to the visiting Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday night.—
Ben Verbrugge,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The material is a durable 70-denier nylon taffeta that’s supremely soft, breathable, cooling, and quick-drying.—
Olivia Young,
Travel + Leisure,
22 Oct. 2025
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Recharge the balls by washing them in a mesh bag on a delicate cycle, then air-dry or run them through a drying cycle on high heat.—
Lauren David,
Southern Living,
22 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Scarlet strings of chile hung against the light-brown adobe of houses, and the fields were checkerboards of green and gold.—
Jack O'Connor,
Outdoor Life,
23 Oct. 2025
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The garment tightened at the waist while the top hung relatively loosely, and the midi-length column featured a thigh-high slit.—
Jaden Thompson,
Footwear News,
23 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Losing him for the entire World Series would weaken their already-thin bullpen, and force Roberts to get creative in high-leverage situations after his starting pitcher has been removed.—
Jon Paul Hoornstra,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Oct. 2025
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After accounting for lifestyle variables like exercise, the effects weakened a bit as, for example, more active people tend to spend more time outdoors.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
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But after withering on the Houston bench for two years in an overcrowded forward rotation, he’s primed for a leap in Year 3.—
John Hollinger,
New York Times,
25 Oct. 2025
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This week’s chilly temperatures may have Hoosiers shivering but garden plants may be withering.—
Karl Schneider,
IndyStar,
23 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The structures were sagging under the weight of so many books.—
Mary Ann Grossmann,
Twin Cities,
20 Oct. 2025
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The dilapidated wooden trim and sagging porticos were spruced up a few years ago after preservationists complained to the Landmarks Preservation Commission, but the upstairs windows reveal glimpses of peeling paint, crumbling plaster, and collapsing ceilings inside.—
Kim Velsey,
Curbed,
20 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Since posting, Watt’s video has gone viral, even catching the attention of the Live Like Maddie Foundation, which thanked her for capturing the magic and shared her clip to help promote next year’s event.—
Jordan Greene,
PEOPLE,
28 Oct. 2025
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When the candle burns out, upcycle the elegant blue jar into a seashell or trinket holder to keep the beachy vibes going.—
Mariana Best,
Better Homes & Gardens,
28 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Wilt.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wilt. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
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