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
  • Slowing down to test demand, unit economics and operational readiness helps companies avoid costly overexpansion and build growth that lasts after the hype fades.
    Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Many health devices end up forgotten in a drawer after the novelty fades.
    Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 7 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Even though cement is in the name, this glue still dries clear on surfaces.
    BestReviews, Mercury News, 6 Aug. 2026
  • As the scent dries down, blonde woods, bourbon vetiver, and musk linger on the skin.
    Jenny Berg, Vogue, 4 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • An unbearable heat hangs over a world ravaged by climate change, where crime dominates everyday life.
    Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 11 Aug. 2026
  • His bitterness over his broken dreams not only hangs over his own life, but threatens to shatter his family.
    Steve Palopoli, Mercury News, 5 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • As that constraint weakens, so, too, may an incentive for restraint.
    Jason Bordoff, Foreign Affairs, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Infants with the condition may have lifelong complications and may need a heart transplant if the defect is complex, or if the heart weakens after surgery, according to the federal health agency.
    Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 14 Aug. 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
  • And using an Enterprise Brain would assist as well with a memory that goes across the company.
    Sandy Carter, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2026
  • The financial transaction is complete, the tax benefit is secured, and the question of where the money actually goes slides quietly to the bottom of the to-do list.
    Nick Allardice, Fortune, 15 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • The bill fails to address the true drivers of rising premiums.
    Daily Southtown, Chicago Tribune, 14 Aug. 2026
  • West Brom’s fortunes may ebb and flow but the highest ground in the EFL, at 542 feet above sea level, rarely fails to deliver.
    Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 13 Aug. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Wilts.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wilts. Accessed 16 Aug. 2026.

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