wilts

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
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
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
Verb
  • But our excitement fades as Nolan’s camera captures the men raping women, looting houses and reveling in the violence.
    Brent Lang, Variety, 21 July 2026
  • Whether a circadian score becomes the next sleep score or fades as another wellness metric depends on how well the data actually changes behavior.
    Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 21 July 2026
Verb
  • Meanwhile, as the scent dries down, gentle fruity notes of apricot and peach emerge alongside white musk.
    Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 21 July 2026
  • Airflow heats the barrel, and dries the hair while curling it in a process that uses 40 percent less energy than hair-dryer and brush methods.
    Samantha Conti, Footwear News, 9 July 2026
Verb
  • Watch for the undercard reveal, a second press conference closer to fight week, and the broadcast tug-of-war subplot — Eddie Hearn's ongoing back-and-forth with Dana White hangs over every Zuffa boxing card, and this is the biggest one yet.
    Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 23 July 2026
  • Range’s old signage has been stripped away and a banner with the new restaurant’s name and logo now hangs from the front of the patio.
    Emma Hall, Sacbee.com, 23 July 2026
Verb
  • Remove those resources, and the nominal tax rule remains unchanged while its practical effect weakens.
    Andrew Leahey, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026
  • Prolonged screen time tightens the muscles that support the neck and weakens the deep neck flexors responsible for holding the head aligned over the spine.
    Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 22 July 2026
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
Verb
  • Just a little goes a long way with these picks, so snag mini bottles to discover what deserves real estate in your vanity.
    Kyra Surgent, InStyle, 25 July 2026
  • Chris Dowling’s film is earnest in its attempt to extract specifically Christian life lessons from a familiar tale of manchildren forced into growing up, and goes pretty light on the Bible-bashing relative to others in its cinematic church.
    Guy Lodge, Variety, 25 July 2026
Verb
  • Then assume that 30–60% of that capital fails to earn SpaceX’s cost of capital.
    Shivaram Rajgopal, Forbes.com, 23 July 2026
  • Nonproliferation experts have raised concerns that the deal fails to include guardrails to prevent enrichment of uranium to weapons-grade levels.
    Aamer Madhani, Fortune, 23 July 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Wilts.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wilts. Accessed 29 Jul. 2026.

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