1
as in drooped
to be limp from lack of water or vigor
the plants wilted after I forgot to water them for three whole days
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in faded
to lose bodily strength or vigor
she had wilted a bit after walking around the hot and humid city
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in dried
to lose liveliness, force, or freshness
after six solid hours of painting, his energy was starting to wilt
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of wilted
Canada’s response without Poulin Canada could have wilted after seeing its captain limp off to the room, but instead rallied, scoring two goals in quick succession to blow the game open.
—
Hailey Salvian, New York Times, 9 Feb. 2026
If the leaves are limp, dry, wilted, or turning brown, the snake plant isn’t getting enough water.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 8 Feb. 2026
If the leaves or flowers of your orchid plant look wilted, try giving it more sunlight.
—Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 8 Feb. 2026
Cook until the kale is wilted and tender, about 3 to 5 minutes.
—Dallas Morning News, 5 Feb. 2026
Add the spinach and cook until wilted, stirring frequently.
—Robin Miller, AZCentral.com, 4 Feb. 2026
If your hydrangea leaves are wilted, give the plant water asap.
—Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 Jan. 2026
Add 5 garlic cloves, finely chopped, and 2 small sprigs thyme, leaves picked, and cook, stirring often, until radicchio is softened and wilted, 5–8 minutes.
—Shilpa Uskokovic, Bon Appetit Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
Stir in the greens until wilted.
—The Know, Denver Post, 24 Jan. 2026
Hailey Salvian, New York Times, 9 Feb. 2026
If the leaves are limp, dry, wilted, or turning brown, the snake plant isn’t getting enough water.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 8 Feb. 2026
If the leaves or flowers of your orchid plant look wilted, try giving it more sunlight.
—Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 8 Feb. 2026
Cook until the kale is wilted and tender, about 3 to 5 minutes.
—Dallas Morning News, 5 Feb. 2026
Add the spinach and cook until wilted, stirring frequently.
—Robin Miller, AZCentral.com, 4 Feb. 2026
If your hydrangea leaves are wilted, give the plant water asap.
—Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 Jan. 2026
Add 5 garlic cloves, finely chopped, and 2 small sprigs thyme, leaves picked, and cook, stirring often, until radicchio is softened and wilted, 5–8 minutes.
—Shilpa Uskokovic, Bon Appetit Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
Stir in the greens until wilted.
—The Know, Denver Post, 24 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wilted
Verb
-
Two boys saw the balloons had drooped to the ground.—
Sue Ambrose,
Dallas Morning News,
23 Jan. 2026
-
Heads drooped and limbs felt sluggish on the sideline, Jones recounted, as the Broncos fell into a 19-0 deficit through three quarters against the Giants.—
Luca Evans,
Denver Post,
23 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
One year after their deaths, those closest to Hackman and Arakawa say their legacy is not defined by tragedy, but by devotion — a partnership rooted in privacy, dignity and a love story that endured long after Hollywood faded from view.—
Stephanie Giang-Paunon , Larry Fink,
FOXNews.com,
18 Feb. 2026
-
The shock that we could be attacked on our own soil by people who infiltrated the country with the purpose of attacking it has faded.—
Boston Herald editorial staff,
Boston Herald,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Beyond cost and cleanliness In conventional battery production, active materials, carbon additives and binders are mixed into a wet slurry, coated onto metal foil and dried.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
19 Feb. 2026
-
Silgranit sinks can be cleaned with a mixture of dish soap and vinegar, which will need to sit for at least an hour if there are any hard water deposits before being rinsed and dried.—
Lauren Wicks,
Southern Living,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Distinctly sweet notes of perfume also hung thick in the air.—
Cami Fateh,
Vogue,
17 Feb. 2026
-
The possibility of an even longer work stoppage — and the threat of regular season games being canceled — hung over the upcoming CBA negotiations even before Clark’s sudden exit.—
Peter Sblendorio,
New York Daily News,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The Mutawa, as the religious police are known, had their powers significantly weakened in 2016.—
Matthew Martin,
semafor.com,
19 Feb. 2026
-
Well, he's weakened the regulations on clean cars.—
Dana Taylor,
USA Today,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Trees near their sprinklers withered and died.—
Nick Bowlin,
The Frontier,
16 Feb. 2026
-
Last year’s version, which withered on the Senate’s calendar, also included religious organizations.—
Seth Klamann,
Denver Post,
15 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Monster bamboo, bougainvillea, and banana plants crashed in from the roadside; a tin roof sagged under the weight of a gaggle of marabou storks; baboons plundered trash cans at a highway intersection.—
Flora Stubbs,
Travel + Leisure,
7 Feb. 2026
-
Since taking over as GameStop's CEO in September 2023, Cohen has dramatically cut costs, improved the retailer's profitability and grown its collectibles business, even as overall sales have sagged.—
Gabrielle Fonrouge,
CNBC,
30 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Wilted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wilted. Accessed 20 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
