Synonyms of wilting

wilting 1 of 3

adjective

as in sagging

Related Words

• sagging
• drooping
• flagging
• lolling
• dangling
• hanging
• pendent
• suspended
• dependent
• pendulous

wilting

2 of 3

noun

as in failing

Related Words

• failing
• weakening
• fading
• deterioration
• worsening
• sinking
• withering
• degeneration
• decline
• languishing
• wasting (away)
• regression
• relapse

Dissimilar Words

• recovery
• healing
• rehabilitation
• convalescence
• recuperation
• rally
• comeback
• mending
• revival
• rehab
• resuscitation
• survival
• snapback

wilting

3 of 3

verb

present participle of wilt

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

• drooping
• hanging
• sagging
• falling
• flagging
• slumping
• lolling
• subsiding
• collapsing
• swagging
• slouching
• crumpling
• sinking
• dropping
• yielding
• caving (in)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• stiffening
• distending
• rising
• straightening
• uncurling
• unbending

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

• fading
• weakening
• sagging
• going
• drooping
• failing
• decaying
• sinking
• withering
• lagging
• deteriorating
• languishing
• flagging
• wasting (away)
• emaciating
• rotting
• yielding
• wearing out
• degenerating
• breaking down
• running down

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• recovering
• rallying
• recuperating
• gaining
• convalescing
• rebounding

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

• drying
• fading
• withering
• shriveling
• waning
• diminishing
• decreasing
• declining
• mummifying
• lessening
• wizening

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• blooming
• reviving
• growing
• flourishing
• increasing
• thriving
• prospering
• developing
• freshening
• waxing
• surging
• peaking
• cresting

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of wilting

Adjective

Look for wilting flowers and any blooms forming seed pods at their base. — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 30 June 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

Ziata says to store arugula in the crisper drawer, which will also help protect it from drying out too much and wilting. — Molly Allen, Southern Living, 2 Nov. 2026

Fertilizers leave behind salts in the soil that can pull moisture out of root tissue and cause wilting, yellowing, and eventual browning of leaves. — Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 Sep. 2026

Proper sunlight and regular watering keep mums healthy and prevent wilting or flower loss. — Kate McKenna, The Spruce, 17 Sep. 2026

As a vascular pathogen, wilting and dieback are characteristic symptoms of disease, accompanied by necrotic patches on bark and branches. — Emily Leahy, Hartford Courant, 7 Sep. 2026

Other signs that the tree itself is struggling include wilting or yellowing leaves, fading needles on evergreens, smaller leaves, early leaf drop, dead branches, and an increasingly open canopy. — Rachel Silva, Martha Stewart, 30 Aug. 2026

Despite the big upturns for the closers, most Broadway productions saw at least some dips last week, perhaps due to the competition with the three departing shows, or maybe just some summer wilting. — Greg Evans, Deadline, 11 Aug. 2026

Verb

There are years of desire, wilting in silence, or the frenzied rhythm of regret. — Literary Hub, 21 Oct. 2026

Against a backdrop of wilting flowers that left a subtle funk in the air, designer Glenn Martens once again put forth ideas that challenged conventions of beautiful clothing. — Leah Dolan, CNN Money, 30 Sep. 2026

Sinner, who needed the title to complete a career Grand Slam of his own, lost to Argentina’s Juan Manuel Cerúndolo from the verge of victory, wilting in the heat of Paris and with no little help from an illness. — James Hansen, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2026

Other key signs include dead grass, wilting plants, or root damage near the mounds, as the tunneling can negatively impact your yard and garden. — Michelle Mastro, Martha Stewart, 14 Aug. 2026

To my horror, the blooms that were beautifully open two days before my party had actually started wilting and dropping petals by the time the day of the party arrived. — Mary Catherine McAnnally Scott, Southern Living, 23 July 2026

Alcaraz missed this year's French Open — and Wimbledon — with a wrist injury, and Sinner was eliminated in the second round in Paris after wilting in the heat. — ABC News, 12 July 2026

Underwatering Gardening expert Jen McDonald says that underwatering is the most common reason for petunias wilting. — Abby Monteil, The Spruce, 27 June 2026

While wearing the glasses, a wearer can ask questions about topics in one's surroundings, like asking for more information about a landmark on vacation, identifying care instructions for a wilting plant or discovering a full recipe for a dish at a favorite restaurant. — Greta Cross, USA Today, 23 June 2026