1
as in drooping
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 fading
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 drying
to lose liveliness, force, or freshness
after six solid hours of painting, his energy was starting to wilt
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in failing
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of wilting
Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 12 Oct. 2025
The sellers had painted the walls a yellowish hue hovering somewhere between a ripe banana and the grey of a wilting pear.
—Michael Ashley, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
Their two fourth-quarter drives started strong and ended up wilting, first with the Nix pick and second with a couple of bad penalties on Dobbins (for spiking the ball after a run) and tight end Adam Trautman (facemask).
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 15 Sep. 2025
Dylan found the brick house with the peach pink tulips wilting in the window.
—Literary Hub, 13 Aug. 2025
This helps prevent wilting, but also softens up and removes dirt and bugs on the stems.
—Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Aug. 2025
Melissa Locker, Southern Living, 24 Oct. 2025
The Heat won the third quarter 26-21 to enter the fourth quarter with a 91-90 lead before wilting down the stretch.
—Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 23 Oct. 2025
Into the mix are their best friends, lawyer Barry (Andy Samberg) and his wife Amy (Kate McKinnon), who mostly are observers of the wilting Roses but with just the right touch of sympathy and advice.
—Pete Hammond, Deadline, 25 Aug. 2025
Use an ice cube tray to freeze lemon juice, wilting herbs, and even red wine, all of which are perfect additions to your home cooking.
—Gia Mora, Treehugger, 7 Aug. 2025
Adjective
Signs of overwatering include drooping, wilting, or yellowing leaves.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 12 Oct. 2025
The sellers had painted the walls a yellowish hue hovering somewhere between a ripe banana and the grey of a wilting pear.
—Michael Ashley, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
Their two fourth-quarter drives started strong and ended up wilting, first with the Nix pick and second with a couple of bad penalties on Dobbins (for spiking the ball after a run) and tight end Adam Trautman (facemask).
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 15 Sep. 2025
Dylan found the brick house with the peach pink tulips wilting in the window.
—Literary Hub, 13 Aug. 2025
This helps prevent wilting, but also softens up and removes dirt and bugs on the stems.
—Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Aug. 2025
Noun
Swathe greens, herbs, and other veggies in damp paper towels to retain moisture levels and keep the produce from wilting.
—Melissa Locker, Southern Living, 24 Oct. 2025
The Heat won the third quarter 26-21 to enter the fourth quarter with a 91-90 lead before wilting down the stretch.
—Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 23 Oct. 2025
Into the mix are their best friends, lawyer Barry (Andy Samberg) and his wife Amy (Kate McKinnon), who mostly are observers of the wilting Roses but with just the right touch of sympathy and advice.
—Pete Hammond, Deadline, 25 Aug. 2025
Use an ice cube tray to freeze lemon juice, wilting herbs, and even red wine, all of which are perfect additions to your home cooking.
—Gia Mora, Treehugger, 7 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wilting
Verb
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Signs of overwatering include drooping, wilting, or yellowing leaves.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
12 Oct. 2025
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When treating forehead lines together with glabellar lines, headaches are most common (9 percent), followed by brow drooping and eyelid drooping (each 2 percent).—
Lucy Notarantonio,
MSNBC Newsweek,
23 Sep. 2025
Verb
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According to researcher and photographer Roberto García-Roa, the vibrant pigments that butterflies once relied on to attract mates and hide from prey are now fading away as colorful tropical forests are replaced with monochrome infrastructure.—
Desiree Anello,
PEOPLE,
21 Oct. 2025
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The traditional distinctions between linear and streaming are fading away for sports, however.—
Dade Hayes,
Deadline,
21 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Dryer balls can shorten drying time, reducing the amount of shrinkage.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
21 Oct. 2025
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Curing or drying potatoes thickens their skins, allows minor cuts and abrasions to heal, and makes spuds less likely to rot or shrivel in storage.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
20 Oct. 2025
Noun
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One of the big failings that happens in a lean transformation is when senior management doesn’t take on that responsibility of leading and teaching.—
Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson,
semafor.com,
24 Oct. 2025
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The Wolves turned the ball over 19 times in an effort that was reminiscent of their Western Conference Finals failings against Oklahoma City.—
Jace Frederick,
Twin Cities,
23 Oct. 2025
Verb
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One can make the argument that his choice to forego free agency and remove the dark cloud hanging over the team's season has almost as much to do with the Jays getting to the World Series as his stellar play on the diamond.—
Jackson Roberts,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 Oct. 2025
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Otherwise, remember that a coat closet should prioritize hanging items first.—
Nafeesah Allen,
Better Homes & Gardens,
21 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Washington — The Federal Reserve was already facing one of its most difficult battles, steering a shifting economy through a weakening labor market and stubborn inflation.—
Bryan Mena,
CNN Money,
22 Oct. 2025
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Far from expanding opportunity, this excessive wealth locks millions out of the chance to innovate and build, weakening growth for all.—
Scott Ellis,
Time,
17 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
Noun
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The sharp deterioration in air quality this week comes following celebrations for Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, which traditionally involves the widespread use of firecrackers which release sulfur oxides and nitrogen oxides into the air, as well as harmful heavy metals.—
Rhea Mogul,
CNN Money,
22 Oct. 2025
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This isn’t to say writer and director Mary Bronstein’s film, about the agonizing deterioration of a woman whose life is falling down around her in near-apocalyptic fashion, isn’t worth watching.—
Bill Goodykoontz,
AZCentral.com,
18 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Wilting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wilting. Accessed 27 Oct. 2025.
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