wilts

verb

present tense third-person singular of wilt
1
as in droops
to be limp from lack of water or vigor the plants wilted after I forgot to water them for three whole days

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2
as in fades
to lose bodily strength or vigor she had wilted a bit after walking around the hot and humid city

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in dries
to lose liveliness, force, or freshness after six solid hours of painting, his energy was starting to wilt

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of wilts When to Harvest Spinach Harvest spinach early in the morning when temperatures are cool and before the sun wilts the leaves, says gardening instructor Meg Austin. — Samantha Johnson, Martha Stewart, 7 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wilts
  1. droops
  2. fades
  3. dries
  4. hangs
  5. weakens
  6. sags
  7. goes
  8. fails
Verb
  • The single strand of hair that droops down on his forehead, almost reminiscent of Christopher Reeve’s Superman.
    — Timothy Bella, Washington Post, 28 Sep. 2026
  • Too thick of a mascara coat, and suddenly my gaze droops.
    — Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 8 Jan. 2026
Definition of droops
Verb
  • In comparison, carb-heavy or sugary foods like pasta and candy cause a sharp blood glucose spike that quickly fades, taking your energy with it.
    — Rachael Zimlich, Verywell Health, 26 Sep. 2026
  • The best possibilities remain appealing after the excitement fades and the practical part finally enters the room.
    — Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of fades
Verb
  • Bergamot nectar and neroli add a hint of crispness, while white musk and soft woods linger on the skin as the fragrance dries down.
    — Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 3 Sep. 2026
  • The $80 jeans are built to withstand how the average male consumer wears, washes and dries his jeans.
    — Angela Velasquez, Footwear News, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of dries
Verb
  • The shadow that hangs over the entire series, though, is the perilous future of the church.
    — John Blake, CNN Money, 1 Oct. 2026
  • The name carries a rich legacy; over Digger’s mantelpiece hangs a shovel with which his grandfather struck black gold in Texas, in 1917.
    — Justin Chang, New Yorker, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of hangs
Verb
  • Fink said the churn weakens the tie between a worker and an employer.
    — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Opponents argue the proposal weakens environmental protections, stifles community input and could fast-track projects like data centers and freeways.
    — Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of weakens
Verb
  • Unfortunately, using too little paint will leave patchy areas and harsh lines, and using too much paint will promote drips and paint that sags.
    — Timothy Dale, The Spruce, 6 July 2026
  • There is no scrapeable archive of how to grasp a wet cup, unload a box that sags in the middle, fold a towel, or help an older adult out of a chair.
    — Robert J. Szczerba, Forbes.com, 23 June 2026
Definition of sags
Verb
  • And keep in mind that a little goes a long way with each spritz, so one bottle will last you a while.
    — Ali Faccenda, InStyle, 26 Sep. 2026
  • When one of the contestants goes missing, Detective Fion Morgan has to work out the difference between what’s been shown on screen and the truth.
    — L.M. Chilton, PEOPLE, 26 Sep. 2026
Definition of goes
Verb
  • Overrun with puzzling plot points, several cameos and a bloated supporting cast, the series fails to stick the landing.
    — Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 2 Oct. 2026
  • However, net job creation fails to account for the need to replace retiring workers, Sigelman says.
    — Itzel Franco, CNBC, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of fails

Browse Nearby Words

wilting
wilts
wily
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Cite this Entry

“Wilts.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wilts. Accessed 4 Oct. 2026.

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