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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Wilting Leaves Are Not Normal Don’t assume that leaves yellowing or wilting tomato plant leaves from the bottom up as the season progresses is normal.
—
Gemma Johnstone, The Spruce, 24 Apr. 2026
Spend Time Gardening Together For the mom who’d rather be outside than anywhere else, quality time in the garden beats a bouquet that’ll wilt in a week.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Miami Herald, 24 Apr. 2026
The memorial honoring Hernandez's memory showed signs of recent visitors this week, with fresh flowers mixed in with ones that had wilted long ago.
—ABC News, 22 Apr. 2026
Damage includes stunted, yellow, or wilted leaves and loss of flower buds.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 22 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for wilt
Gemma Johnstone, The Spruce, 24 Apr. 2026
Spend Time Gardening Together For the mom who’d rather be outside than anywhere else, quality time in the garden beats a bouquet that’ll wilt in a week.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Miami Herald, 24 Apr. 2026
The memorial honoring Hernandez's memory showed signs of recent visitors this week, with fresh flowers mixed in with ones that had wilted long ago.
—ABC News, 22 Apr. 2026
Damage includes stunted, yellow, or wilted leaves and loss of flower buds.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 22 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for wilt
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wilt
Verb
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Overhead watering may cause flowers to droop or spotting on petals; certain species are more subject to disease if watered from above.—
Steve Bender,
Southern Living,
29 Apr. 2026
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The disease in deer is often characterized by progressive weight loss, stumbling, lack of coordination, listlessness, drooping ears, excessive drooling or thirst and a lack of fear of humans.—
Stephen Underwood,
Hartford Courant,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Garments spanning nylon half-zips to French Terry sweatshirts, garments look faded and worn-in and feature hallmarks of denim like whiskers, creases, abrasions and breakages that tell stories of time and use.—
Angela Velasquez,
Footwear News,
24 Apr. 2026
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It's become the default mode of governing for majorities in Congress as bipartisanship on major issues fades away.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
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There are also included cushions that won’t fade in the sun and dry quickly after storms.—
Shea Simmons,
Southern Living,
28 Apr. 2026
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Think 360-degree stretch, lightweight breathable fibers that dry almost as fast as athletic shorts, and an antimicrobial treatment that keeps them smelling and feeling fresh in between washes.—
Katie Jackson,
Travel + Leisure,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Remember to look high and low, scrutinizing not just eye-level shelves but also the very top ledges and the floor beneath hanging clothes.—
Nicole Letts,
Southern Living,
28 Apr. 2026
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Even so, Williams’ Grade 1 left hamstring strain hangs over the series and whatever comes after it.—
C.J. Holmes,
New York Daily News,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The deeper the rifts between the United States and Europe over Iran, the greater the chances of weakening the NATO alliance.—
Sudarsan Raghavan,
New Yorker,
28 Apr. 2026
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During his appearances on Capitol Hill this month, Secretary Kennendy was grilled about the administration's defense of the pesticide industry and weakening of protections against mercury pollution, another issue that Kennedy had worked on as an advocate.—
Will Stone,
NPR,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The Palestinian Authority’s power has withered amid years without peace negotiations and Israel tightening its grip on the West Bank.—
Sam Metz,
Los Angeles Times,
25 Apr. 2026
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Their global footprint and their domestic market both have withered away over the last half-century, the finger of blame largely pointing at themselves.—
Jamie Lincoln Kitman,
Rolling Stone,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Johnson became the club’s sixth man midway through the 2023-24 campaign when then-coach Gregg Popovich moved him to the bench hoping the the high-energy 29th overall pick of the 2019 draft would energize a sagging second unit.—
Tom Orsborn,
San Antonio Express-News,
22 Apr. 2026
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Broadway box office sagged a bit last week, possibly as the previous week’s Easter vacationers and spring-breakers returned home and a crowded, 40-show production slate with lots of newcomers competed with one another for attention.—
Greg Evans,
Deadline,
21 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Instead, the 2026 draft saw a running back go third, a middle linebacker go seventh, and nine offensive linemen gone by the end of the first round.—
Zak Keefer,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
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There’s a lot that goes (on) behind the scene as a manager.—
Ronald Blum,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Wilt.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wilt. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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