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
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
Avoid any heads with cracks, bruises, wilting leaves, or signs of mold.
—Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 20 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
Rachel Gillett, Martha Stewart, 21 Jan. 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
Early signs that your plant is dying are wilting or falling leaves or stunted growth.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 14 Nov. 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
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
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
Avoid any heads with cracks, bruises, wilting leaves, or signs of mold.
—Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 20 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
Signs of Underwatering The most obvious sign of underwatering is wilting or drooping.
—Rachel Gillett, Martha Stewart, 21 Jan. 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
Early signs that your plant is dying are wilting or falling leaves or stunted growth.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 14 Nov. 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
Noun
-
This is something Director Smith said many of the failings of the First Step Act was because of the prior administrations misallocation of funding under the program.—
Walter Pavlo,
Forbes.com,
28 Jan. 2026
-
This is not a failing of the principles of liberalism, however, but a failure of those entrusted to act in its name.—
Philip Mullins,
Harpers Magazine,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Signs of Underwatering The most obvious sign of underwatering is wilting or drooping.—
Rachel Gillett,
Martha Stewart,
21 Jan. 2026
-
Its drooping branches tend to hug the tree but can sometimes spread as far as 8 feet.—
Lee Wallender,
The Spruce,
20 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Data Privacy Week is one of those calendar moments that risks fading into the background.—
Tony Bradley,
Forbes.com,
26 Jan. 2026
-
The oil’s powerhouse formula has a number of benefits, including brightening skin and fading age spots.—
Tamim Alnuweiri,
InStyle,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Plus the formula is fast-drying, to prevent flaking and smudging, with a small fiber brush that coats each lash while keeping clumping at bay.—
Conçetta Ciarlo,
Vogue,
3 Feb. 2026
-
Humans have always processed food by chopping, cooking, fermenting, drying or freezing.—
Michael I Goran,
The Conversation,
3 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Leveling threats of tariffs on adversaries and allies alike has been relatively easy, but the result has been a weakening of the economy and American trade ties, and a crumbling of the old global-trade system.—
David A. Graham,
The Atlantic,
28 Jan. 2026
-
This weakening of the teeth of the apex predators could affect the broader marine ecosystem, too.—
Justin Klawans,
TheWeek,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The all-in-one design incorporates hooks, a hanging rod, and shelves, and can hold up to 30 pounds of jackets, bags, shoes, and more.—
Quincy Bulin,
Better Homes & Gardens,
1 Feb. 2026
-
One of the goals is to create a homelike setting, such as hanging plants, pets and children visiting with residents, with a focus on autonomy and flexibility.—
Helen Dennis,
Daily News,
1 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Chuky’s face was pockmarked and flat-browed, with heavy, sagging eyelids that might’ve been extra-weighted by the liquor.—
Jonathan Miles,
Harpers Magazine,
27 Jan. 2026
-
National Grid expects Massachusetts to be hit hard, with snow buildups possibly leading to sagging powerlines and tree limbs that can contribute to power outages.—
Matt Nighswander,
NBC news,
24 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The conviction was a victory of sorts for France’s justice system, which held up under a withering campaign of abuse by Sarkozy and his allies.—
Robert F. Worth,
The Atlantic,
17 Jan. 2026
-
Jafar Panahi’s Palme d’Or-winning thriller possesses a withering critique of the cruelty and corruption of an authoritarian regime, combined with a blistering sense of humor.—
Glenn Whipp,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Wilting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wilting. Accessed 4 Feb. 2026.
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