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, 20 Jan. 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
Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 17 Feb. 2026
Some professors are treating wilting attention spans as a problem to be solved, not a reality to accept.
—Rose Horowitch, The Atlantic, 30 Jan. 2026
Yellow stippling on plant leaves and sticky honeydew residue can be signs of pests, but pests can also cause leaf wilting and stunted growth.
—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 Jan. 2026
My favorite finds include storage bins for yogurt cups, a butter dish, and an herb saver that prevents basil leaves from wilting.
—Sian Babish, PEOPLE, 14 Jan. 2026
Yellowing, wilting, or leggy growth often improves with simple light, water, or placement tweaks.
—Gemma Johnstone, The Spruce, 12 Jan. 2026
Avoid placing the plant in direct sunlight, as sudden exposure can cause stress and lead to wilting or sunburn.
—Sj McShane, Martha Stewart, 8 Jan. 2026
Handmade metal sculptures reproduced the park’s plants in all their wilting, late-summer glory.
—Javier Montes, Artforum, 1 Jan. 2026
Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 18 Feb. 2026
And Margot Robbie gives the character a sharpness, an agency that’s a relief from the wilting Catherines of yore — which actually makes her ultimate gruesome fate feel that much more tragic.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 16 Feb. 2026
Black-eyed Susan blooms at the end of hot, humid summers when other plants are wilting.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 14 Feb. 2026
The flowers depressed her, especially those already wilting.
—Allegra Goodman, Literary Hub, 11 Feb. 2026
Houseplants that are already wilting, suffering from root rot, or infested with pests shouldn't be watered with rice water, notes Harryson.
—Lauren David, Martha Stewart, 10 Feb. 2026
Most of the time, the reason your orchid's leaves are wilting is because of a problem with the roots, says Justin Kondrat, lead horticulturist at the Smithsonian Orchid Collection.
—Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 Jan. 2026
Yet there the Packers were in Chicago, wilting under the pressure of one yet again.
—Matt Schneidman, New York Times, 11 Jan. 2026
Adrian Kempe and Corey Perry also scored, Darcy Kuemper made 24 saves, and the Kings were able to respond after wilting late in similar circumstances in a 5-3 loss to Tampa Bay on Thursday.
—CBS News, 4 Jan. 2026
Adjective
Not Enough Water Limp, wilting leaves can also indicate your orchid is getting too little water.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 20 Jan. 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
Check For Underwatering A peace lily with drooping or wilting leaves is probably a thirsty plant.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 17 Feb. 2026
Some professors are treating wilting attention spans as a problem to be solved, not a reality to accept.
—Rose Horowitch, The Atlantic, 30 Jan. 2026
Yellow stippling on plant leaves and sticky honeydew residue can be signs of pests, but pests can also cause leaf wilting and stunted growth.
—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 Jan. 2026
My favorite finds include storage bins for yogurt cups, a butter dish, and an herb saver that prevents basil leaves from wilting.
—Sian Babish, PEOPLE, 14 Jan. 2026
Yellowing, wilting, or leggy growth often improves with simple light, water, or placement tweaks.
—Gemma Johnstone, The Spruce, 12 Jan. 2026
Avoid placing the plant in direct sunlight, as sudden exposure can cause stress and lead to wilting or sunburn.
—Sj McShane, Martha Stewart, 8 Jan. 2026
Handmade metal sculptures reproduced the park’s plants in all their wilting, late-summer glory.
—Javier Montes, Artforum, 1 Jan. 2026
Verb
Rotten flowers sit wilting in a vase, the fireplace is lit, and clothes are strewn around.
—Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 18 Feb. 2026
And Margot Robbie gives the character a sharpness, an agency that’s a relief from the wilting Catherines of yore — which actually makes her ultimate gruesome fate feel that much more tragic.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 16 Feb. 2026
Black-eyed Susan blooms at the end of hot, humid summers when other plants are wilting.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 14 Feb. 2026
The flowers depressed her, especially those already wilting.
—Allegra Goodman, Literary Hub, 11 Feb. 2026
Houseplants that are already wilting, suffering from root rot, or infested with pests shouldn't be watered with rice water, notes Harryson.
—Lauren David, Martha Stewart, 10 Feb. 2026
Most of the time, the reason your orchid's leaves are wilting is because of a problem with the roots, says Justin Kondrat, lead horticulturist at the Smithsonian Orchid Collection.
—Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 Jan. 2026
Yet there the Packers were in Chicago, wilting under the pressure of one yet again.
—Matt Schneidman, New York Times, 11 Jan. 2026
Adrian Kempe and Corey Perry also scored, Darcy Kuemper made 24 saves, and the Kings were able to respond after wilting late in similar circumstances in a 5-3 loss to Tampa Bay on Thursday.
—CBS News, 4 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wilting
Noun
-
Unpredictable funding from Congress compounds these failings.—
Marc Scribner,
Oc Register,
8 Feb. 2026
-
The report claimed these changes were made to minimize the city and fire department’s failings.—
Barnini Chakraborty,
The Washington Examiner,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Mushy brown, black, or yellow leaves, soggy soil that’s smelly, and drooping all point to too much water.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
22 Feb. 2026
-
Here's how to restore your drooping Christmas cactus.—
Leanne Potts,
Better Homes & Gardens,
22 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
While the era of easy, equity-like returns is fading as the asset class matures and competition intensifies, private credit’s growth phase is not over just yet, said PitchBook analyst Kyle Walters.—
Lee Ying Shan,
CNBC,
24 Feb. 2026
-
The foothills in the distance become burnished in the golden hour’s fading light.—
Audrey T. Williams,
Mercury News,
23 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
By adjusting slurry mixing and drying protocols alone, the team reduced internal ionic resistance in their test electrodes by up to 40 percent.—
Ameya Paleja,
Interesting Engineering,
17 Feb. 2026
-
However, drying with a towel can reduce water spots, especially if the dishes are rinsed in cold water.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
The Spruce,
17 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Artificial gravity wards against the dangers of microgravity, including bone loss, muscle wasting, heart weakening, and eye destabilization.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
19 Feb. 2026
-
David Reichel, executive director of the Sierra Avalanche Center, which issues forecasts for the Tahoe-Truckee area, says his group is monitoring the recent weakening of the snow surface.—
Tom Metcalfe,
Scientific American,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Minutes later, wearing a blue lanyard with a solid gold medal hanging across his chest, Tkachuk called into the stands for Gaudreau’s two children to join the official team picture.—
Chris Kudialis,
Miami Herald,
23 Feb. 2026
-
This set of 10 comes with six packing cubes, one laundry bag, one shoe bag, a pouch, and a hanging toiletry case—all for $21 right now.—
Anna Popp,
Travel + Leisure,
22 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Sidewalks are apparently sagging in the area, with the problem being worse Wednesday than the day before.—
Nick Caloway,
CBS News,
18 Feb. 2026
-
Would that be enough to counter his sagging approval and voters' economic angst?—
Susan Page,
USA Today,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
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And the latest additions add to the depth Vanney will need to weather a withering schedule.—
Kevin Baxter,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Feb. 2026
-
In 1856, violence came to Washington, too, when a South Carolina congressman brutally caned the Massachusetts Senator Charles Sumner on the floor of the Senate, two days after Sumner delivered a withering antislavery speech.—
Jake Lundberg,
The Atlantic,
12 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Wilting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wilting. Accessed 24 Feb. 2026.
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