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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
3
as in dries
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

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
  • The uncertainty around Guimaraes, who wants to move to Arsenal, hangs over everything.
    David Ornstein, New York Times, 30 July 2026
  • The moon hangs over Kizingoni Beach, like a lantern above the Indian Ocean.
    Sarah Kingdom, Forbes.com, 28 July 2026
Verb
  • In fact, researchers warn that regular use not only weakens healthy sleep but increases the risk of dependence.
    Joan M. Cook, Time, 31 July 2026
  • Water limits visibility and weakens the effectiveness of traditional surveillance systems such as radar.
    Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 29 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
  • The Angels’ Leon (Daddy Wags) Wagner goes 3-for-4 with his 28th homer, but is twice thrown out on the bases by a Cleveland outfielder.
    Chuck Murr, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026
  • Taking a giant leap of faith into the unknown to see where life goes.
    Chris Arnold, NPR, 1 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Witchel, who built physics simulations to predict athletic injury before pivoting to cognitive care, argues that statistical AI fails at the individual level.
    Geri Stengel, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026
  • In turn, there is a perception that the endeavor is one big cash grab, one that is not worth the risk of embarrassment if the film fails critically and/or commercially.
    Marcus Jones, IndieWire, 31 July 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

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

More from Merriam-Webster on wilts

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster