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
The reality is that Liverpool wilted.
—
James Pearce, New York Times, 9 Feb. 2026
Rather than wilt under the pressure, the Braintree junior decided to deliver in the clutch.
—Brendan Connelly, Boston Herald, 7 Feb. 2026
Cook until the kale is wilted and tender, about 3 to 5 minutes.
—Dallas Morning News, 5 Feb. 2026
Cook for 3-4 minutes, or until cabbage starts to slightly wilt.
—Gretchen McKay, Twin Cities, 5 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for wilt
James Pearce, New York Times, 9 Feb. 2026
Rather than wilt under the pressure, the Braintree junior decided to deliver in the clutch.
—Brendan Connelly, Boston Herald, 7 Feb. 2026
Cook until the kale is wilted and tender, about 3 to 5 minutes.
—Dallas Morning News, 5 Feb. 2026
Cook for 3-4 minutes, or until cabbage starts to slightly wilt.
—Gretchen McKay, Twin Cities, 5 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for wilt
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wilt
Verb
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Check For Underwatering A peace lily with drooping or wilting leaves is probably a thirsty plant.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
17 Feb. 2026
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Avoid flowers that are releasing pollen, are discolored, or have drooping foliage.—
Heather Zidack,
Hartford Courant,
15 Feb. 2026
Verb
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When Dreher wrote The Benedict Option, during the Obama presidency, his primary concern was how to keep faith alive at a time when Christianity seemed to be fading away.—
Robert F. Worth,
The Atlantic,
13 Feb. 2026
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Relationship endings are possible under this influence — don’t insist on forcing a connection that’s trying to fade.—
Tarot.com,
Chicago Tribune,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
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By adjusting slurry mixing and drying protocols alone, the team reduced internal ionic resistance in their test electrodes by up to 40 percent.—
Ameya Paleja,
Interesting Engineering,
17 Feb. 2026
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West says that fragrances with deeper notes like musk, tobacco, and cardamom, create a lasting impression as the fragrance dries down throughout the day.—
Allure,
Allure,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Most people today will want to install a TV in the living room and over the mantel is the most logistical place to hang a screen.—
Sarah Lyon,
The Spruce,
17 Feb. 2026
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Warned by her uncle Mordechai, Esther told the king that Haman, the royal vizier, wanted to hang all the Hebrews.—
Judith Levy,
Sun Sentinel,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Getty Images Since the June strikes, Iran’s rulers have been weakened by street protests, suppressed at a cost of thousands of lives, against a cost-of-living crisis driven in part by international sanctions that have strangled the country’s oil income.—
Max Burman,
NBC news,
17 Feb. 2026
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Some purchasers had issues with the hook-and-loop straps weakening quickly.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
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In 1856, violence came to Washington, too, when a South Carolina congressman brutally caned the Massachusetts Senator Charles Sumner on the floor of the Senate, two days after Sumner delivered a withering antislavery speech.—
Jake Lundberg,
The Atlantic,
12 Feb. 2026
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California’s veterans deserve thoughtful, forward-looking policy that reflects their reality — not theories that wither in the face of the domestic battles that veterans should never have to fight.—
Irene Watkins,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
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In fact, one shopper even credits it with improving sagging corners around the mouth and forehead creasing.—
Melanie Fincher,
Southern Living,
10 Feb. 2026
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Unlike your average and typical pillow that sags over time, this one has hotel-like appeal because of its precise border for a structured, refined look.—
Nashia Baker,
Architectural Digest,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The movies that would be honored here, by contrast, were bolder than the Spirits usually go, resulting in a truly independent raft of winners.—
Film Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
16 Feb. 2026
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Despite going 0-2, Wembanyama led the World team in scoring in both games with 14 points in the opener and 19 in the third game.—
Greg Beacham,
Twin Cities,
16 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Wilt.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wilt. Accessed 20 Feb. 2026.
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