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 One of the examples given in the article shows a user asking to use baby spinach instead of kale, with the Cooking app feature advising that because baby spinach wilts faster, it should be added during a later step of the recipe. — Jess Weatherbed, The Verge, 29 Oct. 2026 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
  • 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
  • One edge of the sculpture droops over the walkway’s railing onto the awning of the Standard Hotel’s Soda Shop below, and its curling arches brush up against the underbelly of a bridge above.
    — New York Times, New York Times, 18 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Together, these mechanisms paint a richer picture of why Orion's giant star fades and brightens.
    — Joe Rao, Space.com, 3 Nov. 2026
  • Antonioni’s great innovation was that the story line fades away, along with conventional expectations about action, time, and dramatic resolution.
    — Joshua Yaffa, New Yorker, 2 Nov. 2026
Verb
  • The fragrance opens with a burst of red currant and juicy lychee before settling into soft rose petals as the scent dries down.
    — Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 26 Oct. 2026
  • Once the floor dries, there may be little indication that water had been there at all.
    — Emma Clapp, Miami Herald, 16 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Miloslav Druckmüller, Shadia Habbal, and Václav Široký The sun hangs low over the plains of Castile and León, in the north-central region of Spain.
    — IEEE Spectrum, IEEE Spectrum, 5 Nov. 2026
  • When the rhythm section drops away, her voice hangs among flute, synthesiser, and reverberation; when the rhythm returns, the bass feels newly physical.
    — Emma Madden, Pitchfork, 4 Nov. 2026
Verb
  • El Niño is a tropical Pacific climate pattern that weakens trade winds, shifts jet streams, and can increase the risk of flooding, droughts, and wildfires.
    — Cindy Carcamo, Christian Science Monitor, 2 Nov. 2026
  • And perhaps most importantly, gerrymandering weakens accountability.
    — Bobby Zirkin, Baltimore Sun, 1 Nov. 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
  • With the 20% increase, the Residential Max plan goes from $130 per month to $156 per month, which amounts to an extra $312 per year.
    — Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 7 Nov. 2026
  • Conclusion The most valuable battery improvement depends on where the battery goes.
    — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 7 Nov. 2026
Verb
  • Jewelry is the gift that never fails, and this year's ready-to-wrap sparklers are certain to be cherished for a lifetime.
    — Kelsey Legg, ABC News, 6 Nov. 2026
  • The man suffers an allergic reaction, Allan’s amateur attempt at first aid fails and the client dies.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 6 Nov. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Wilts.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wilts. Accessed 9 Nov. 2026.

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