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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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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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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
  • Too thick of a mascara coat, and suddenly my gaze droops.
    — Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 8 Jan. 2026
  • The cream should hold a soft, semi-sturdy peak that gently droops at the tip without collapsing entirely.
    — Gabi De la Rosa, Southern Living, 22 Aug. 2025
Definition of droops
Verb
  • The problem, however, is that at these depths sunlight fades rapidly, and red light, where silicon cells perform best, is completely absorbed.
    — Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 21 Sep. 2026
  • The useful question is whether the choice still feels worthwhile once the excitement fades.
    — Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 20 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
  • Above another booth hangs a mirrored Andy Warhol portrait of Gianni Versace, loaned to Remm by a friend.
    — Clara Molot, Vanity Fair, 24 Sep. 2026
  • Jose Cardoso is slim enough that his Bremen soccer jersey hangs loosely off him.
    — Steve Millar, Chicago Tribune, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of hangs
Verb
  • Each decision to move work overseas further weakens the economic conditions needed to sustain domestic capacity.
    — George Whittier, Forbes.com, 23 Sep. 2026
  • However, Bernstein pointed out that even if the global AI trade weakens, India is unlikely to see any major reversal of foreign capital flows.
    — Priyanka Salve, CNBC, 22 Sep. 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
  • Consider what happens when a large late-stage clinical trial fails.
    — George Achilleos, Forbes.com, 25 Sep. 2026
  • While captive whales often live only into their 30s, Marino said attributing their deaths to age fails to acknowledge the reality of why their lifespans are shorter.
    — Lila Hempel-Edgers, Chicago Tribune, 25 Sep. 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 27 Sep. 2026.

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