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, 7 Mar. 2026
These two are the sole remaining bright spot on this quickly wilting season.
—Tom Smyth, Vulture, 20 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
Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 7 Mar. 2026
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
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
Curling, drooping, or yellowing leaves can indicate overwatering, while drooping and wilting leaves indicate underwatering.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 7 Mar. 2026
These two are the sole remaining bright spot on this quickly wilting season.
—Tom Smyth, Vulture, 20 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
Verb
Plants infected by the bacterial disease transmitted by these beetles show wilting with a single leaf, which then spreads to the entire plant and results in plant death within a week or so, says Khan.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 7 Mar. 2026
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
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
-
Reporters here and across the nation routinely request public records to illuminate systemic failings, abuse and corruption across all levels of government.—
Katie Moore,
Kansas City Star,
12 Mar. 2026
-
The narrators have soft spots for various failings.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Beneath it, a man squatted on the pavement, staring at nothing in particular, a glass pipe drooping from his fingers.—
Sam Kriss,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Feb. 2026
-
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
Verb
-
The clubs, civic organizations and community events that once brought our forefathers together are largely fading away.—
Judith Martin,
Dallas Morning News,
10 Mar. 2026
-
Produced by Edko Films and directed by Jack Ng, the film is set in 2012 at a fading hostess nightclub in Tsim Sha Tsui East.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Simplify your cooking time with milk frother wands, miniature bag sealers, vegetable choppers, collapsible drying racks, and more.—
Caley Sturgill,
Southern Living,
10 Mar. 2026
-
The brand has even included a convenient hanging hook to expedite the already quick-drying properties of this base layer in the event things get a little too wet and wild.—
Harry Spampinato,
Travel + Leisure,
10 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Another displacement or weakening of the polar vortex is underway, which can allow bursts of Arctic air to spill into the Midwest and Northeast at times, according to AccuWeather lead long-range meteorologist Paul Pastelok.—
Doyle Rice,
USA Today,
12 Mar. 2026
-
To be sure, Barclays acknowledged Nike’s turnaround still faces risks around tariffs, competition and a potential weakening in consumer spending tied to the Middle East conflict.—
Natasha Abellard,
CNBC,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Parker, who had a history of mental illness and suicide attempts, was discovered hanging inside his cell last Sunday, the Sheriff’s Office said.—
Jeff McDonald,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
15 Mar. 2026
-
All afternoon on Strasma North Drive, the constant sounds of chainsaws were heard in a last-ditch effort to get any hanging branches off trees.—
Marissa Sulek,
CBS News,
15 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
This week the New York Times reported how the Metropolitan Opera — the world’s largest performing arts institution — is bleeding money, and dipping into its endowment to make up for sagging ticket sales.—
Andrew Silow-Carroll,
Sun Sentinel,
11 Mar. 2026
-
There can be sagging along the lower face or the development of jowls.—
Elizabeth Gulino,
Allure,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Businesses in border towns like Buffalo and Bellingham, Washington, are withering.—
Nathaniel Meyersohn,
CNN Money,
5 Mar. 2026
-
Cuba’s tourism industry is withering amid severe blackouts, dwindling oil reserves and heightened tensions with the United States.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
4 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Wilting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wilting. Accessed 17 Mar. 2026.
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