as in failing
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of wilting
Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 16 Mar. 2026
The first sign your peace lily is thirsty will be yellowing and wilting leaves.
—Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 Jan. 2026
No wilting languor on this veranda — for that matter, no veranda either — just ferocity, desperation, and, of course, brutal desire.
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 4 Dec. 2025
Nadia Hassani, The Spruce, 19 May 2026
In extreme heat, give lemon balm some afternoon shade to prevent leaf scorching and wilting.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 17 May 2026
April in Central Florida is commonly one of the drier months of the year before summer rains, showing itself instead with brown lawns, wilting bushes, burning forests and smoky skies.
—Martin E. Comas, The Orlando Sentinel, 7 Apr. 2026
Look out for premature dropping of leaves along the stem, brown leaf tips, and wilting, as these can all be signs of both low humidity and lack of soil moisture.
—Derek Carwood, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Mar. 2026
Sean McIndoe, New York Times, 11 May 2026
Our students are not wilting flowers.
—Paula Wethington, CBS News, 4 May 2026
To keep fresh herbs from wilting too quickly, trim the ends, then wrap them in a damp paper towel or cloth before storing.
—Olivia McIntosh, Martha Stewart, 1 May 2026
Impatiens needs frequent watering to prevent it from wilting in hot weather.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 1 May 2026
Many of the symptoms of overwatering — wilting, yellowing leaves, drooping stems — look almost identical to those of underwatering, which is why so many people respond by reaching for the watering can again.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Sacbee.com, 29 Apr. 2026
The relationship between Washington and London has been wilting for years, Bergmann said, starting with the end of the Cold War and the United States putting less emphasis on Russia and Europe.
—Michael Collins, USA Today, 25 Apr. 2026
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
Why are my basil cuttings wilting in water?
—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 Apr. 2026
Adjective
Keep an eye out for wilting leaves, and check the soil for dryness.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 16 Mar. 2026
The first sign your peace lily is thirsty will be yellowing and wilting leaves.
—Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 Jan. 2026
No wilting languor on this veranda — for that matter, no veranda either — just ferocity, desperation, and, of course, brutal desire.
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 4 Dec. 2025
Noun
Squash bugs also extract the sap from zucchini leaves, causing yellow or brown spots and wilting.
—Nadia Hassani, The Spruce, 19 May 2026
In extreme heat, give lemon balm some afternoon shade to prevent leaf scorching and wilting.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 17 May 2026
April in Central Florida is commonly one of the drier months of the year before summer rains, showing itself instead with brown lawns, wilting bushes, burning forests and smoky skies.
—Martin E. Comas, The Orlando Sentinel, 7 Apr. 2026
Look out for premature dropping of leaves along the stem, brown leaf tips, and wilting, as these can all be signs of both low humidity and lack of soil moisture.
—Derek Carwood, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Mar. 2026
Verb
Beating the spotlight-wilting Maple Leafs was one thing.
—Sean McIndoe, New York Times, 11 May 2026
Our students are not wilting flowers.
—Paula Wethington, CBS News, 4 May 2026
To keep fresh herbs from wilting too quickly, trim the ends, then wrap them in a damp paper towel or cloth before storing.
—Olivia McIntosh, Martha Stewart, 1 May 2026
Impatiens needs frequent watering to prevent it from wilting in hot weather.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 1 May 2026
Many of the symptoms of overwatering — wilting, yellowing leaves, drooping stems — look almost identical to those of underwatering, which is why so many people respond by reaching for the watering can again.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Sacbee.com, 29 Apr. 2026
The relationship between Washington and London has been wilting for years, Bergmann said, starting with the end of the Cold War and the United States putting less emphasis on Russia and Europe.
—Michael Collins, USA Today, 25 Apr. 2026
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
Why are my basil cuttings wilting in water?
—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wilting
Noun
-
More bailouts would paper over the failings of federal regulation.—
Marc Scribner,
Washington Post,
13 May 2026
-
Equally important is practicing self-care and self-compassion, which, Broder says, means treating yourself with kindness instead of judgment and recognizing that your patterns developed as a way to cope, not as a personal failing.—
Daryl Austin,
USA Today,
12 May 2026
Verb
-
Improper watering causes slow growth, misshapen fruits, yellow or drooping foliage, and other issues.—
Madeline Buiano,
Martha Stewart,
12 May 2026
-
Start with tall bluebonnet stems on the left, fill the middle with medium-height ornamental onions, and finish the arrangement with softly drooping sweet peas on the right.—
Maria Sabella,
Better Homes & Gardens,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
By now, however, that view is fading.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
18 May 2026
-
Taj Mahal kept fading and ultimately finished 10th.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
17 May 2026
Verb
-
Preheat the oven to 250°F, which is just hot enough to heat the ribs gently without drying them out.—
Lisa Cericola,
Southern Living,
17 May 2026
-
Health officials warn that cooking, boiling, freezing or drying wild mushrooms does not neutralize toxins.—
Anthony Thompson,
USA Today,
16 May 2026
Noun
-
These concerns have led to the weakening of the rupee against the dollar, sending it to record lows in recent days.—
Priyanka Salve,
CNBC,
13 May 2026
-
But the weakening of that regime weakens the proxies as well.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
10 May 2026
Verb
-
This week, Carlos Alcaraz took over clay season without hitting a ball, a very patriotic fuel source was key to one player’s Italian Open run and the lawsuit hanging over professional tennis took a new twist.—
Ava Wallace,
New York Times,
18 May 2026
-
For care, the brand recommends machine-washing with a gentle cycle then hanging it to air-dry.—
Clara McMahon,
PEOPLE,
17 May 2026
Verb
-
The cushions will stay bouncy thanks to sinuous springs that prevent sagging over time.—
Christina Shepherd McGuire,
PEOPLE,
10 May 2026
-
This is infused in extra-large toner pads for deep firming hydration to refine pores, smooth texture, and visibly lift sagging skin all in one gentle swipe.—
Rosa Jisoo Pyo,
Vogue,
8 May 2026
Verb
-
What becomes clear is that Yesteryear is not actually the withering critique of faux-trad influencers it’s been marketed as.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
14 May 2026
-
Known as the Critical Medicines Act, the initiative seeks to avoid the kinds of withering drug shortages that were seen during the Covid-19 pandemic.—
Ed Silverman,
STAT,
12 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Wilting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wilting. Accessed 23 May. 2026.
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