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
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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
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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
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Recent Examples of wilted
Wilted Plants After Watering If the soil is moist but the plant has wilted or yellowing leaves, the problem is often root rot caused by overwatering and leaving the soil soggy for too long.
—
Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 8 May 2026
Cook, covered, until spinach is wilted, about 3 minutes.
—Maddy Bendgen, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 Apr. 2026
If plants look deflated or heavily wilted after a wind lashing, this is a sign of water loss.
—Anthony Reardon, Kansas City Star, 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
Rory McIlroy, who built the biggest 36-hole lead in history, wobbled and wilted — one shot in the water, another in the woods — while others surged and made a run at the reigning champion.
—Los Angeles Times, 11 Apr. 2026
Add the spinach and stir until wilted, 1 to 2 minutes.
—Lynda Balslev, Mercury News, 7 Apr. 2026
Then, its defense wilted in a critical moment to seal the defeat.
—Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 6 Apr. 2026
Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 8 May 2026
Cook, covered, until spinach is wilted, about 3 minutes.
—Maddy Bendgen, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 Apr. 2026
If plants look deflated or heavily wilted after a wind lashing, this is a sign of water loss.
—Anthony Reardon, Kansas City Star, 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
Rory McIlroy, who built the biggest 36-hole lead in history, wobbled and wilted — one shot in the water, another in the woods — while others surged and made a run at the reigning champion.
—Los Angeles Times, 11 Apr. 2026
Add the spinach and stir until wilted, 1 to 2 minutes.
—Lynda Balslev, Mercury News, 7 Apr. 2026
Then, its defense wilted in a critical moment to seal the defeat.
—Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 6 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wilted
Verb
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The chickens stomp with swift feet like an Irish step dancer, keeping their tails erect and wings drooped.—
Laura Baisas,
Popular Science,
29 Apr. 2026
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But his mouth was open and drooped peculiarly to one side, and his skin was sucked into his skeleton like a vacuum storage bag.—
Amanda Peet,
New Yorker,
21 Mar. 2026
Verb
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As the sunlight faded on a cobblestone street, more than 200 students from New York University gathered at a table nearly as long as the city block.—
Susan Svrluga,
Washington Post,
6 May 2026
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Meanwhile, the risks for ships and crew haven't faded.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
6 May 2026
Verb
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The striking blooms make excellent cut flowers, both fresh and dried, and attract butterflies and bees to the garden.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
3 May 2026
-
Fresh basil is essential—do not swap in dried.—
Victoria Spencer,
Martha Stewart,
3 May 2026
Verb
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So, the distraction and cloud that hung over her was impeding her ability to effectively represent her constituents.—
Jim DeFede,
CBS News,
26 Apr. 2026
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In his first May as coach, with limited time to build his roster, Musselman and his staff hung their hopes on Massachusetts center Josh Cohen, who proved to be a liability on both ends.—
Ryan Kartje,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
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People who have weakened immune systems and who experienced intense pain during an initial outbreak are also more susceptible to getting shingles a second (or even third) time.—
Petra Guglielmetti,
Glamour,
7 May 2026
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Meanwhile, the institutional guardrails have been weakened.—
Israel Melendez Ayala,
Time,
6 May 2026
Verb
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Decades of relations built through OPEC and other organizations withered under fire, while Western and Israeli ties deepened through the Abraham Accords and shared security threats from Iran.—
Judah Taub,
semafor.com,
30 Apr. 2026
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Its power has withered amid years without peace negotiations and Israel tightening its grip on the occupied West Bank.—
SAM METZ,
Arkansas Online,
26 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Rather than carry over the momentum from Sunday, the Sabres gradually sagged due to spotty goaltending and an anemic power play.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
21 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
Cite this Entry
“Wilted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wilted. Accessed 13 May. 2026.
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