1
as in to dry
to lose liveliness, force, or freshness
shortly after the moon landing, interest in the space program withered the old man seemed to wither suddenly upon turning 80
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to fade
to lose bodily strength or vigor
if he's left on his own, he'll just wither and die
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of wither
Competition, however, has withered in American elections.
—
Craig Gilbert, jsonline.com, 25 Sep. 2025
Khrushchev sought to revive revolutionary elan and push the USSR to the final stage of history, the transition from socialism to communism, during which the state apparatus would finally wither away.
—Benjamin Nathans
september 24, Literary Hub, 24 Sep. 2025
Both quarterbacks faced quality defenses and challenges in their own ways — Herbert with the withering pass rush and Nix with the frustrating Jesse Minter shells that keep everything in front and require a combination of patience and opportunism.
—Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 22 Sep. 2025
The buds and leaves that emerged in the premature warm weather freeze and wither.
—Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for wither
Craig Gilbert, jsonline.com, 25 Sep. 2025
Khrushchev sought to revive revolutionary elan and push the USSR to the final stage of history, the transition from socialism to communism, during which the state apparatus would finally wither away.
—Benjamin Nathans
september 24, Literary Hub, 24 Sep. 2025
Both quarterbacks faced quality defenses and challenges in their own ways — Herbert with the withering pass rush and Nix with the frustrating Jesse Minter shells that keep everything in front and require a combination of patience and opportunism.
—Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 22 Sep. 2025
The buds and leaves that emerged in the premature warm weather freeze and wither.
—Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for wither
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wither
Verb
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Its fast-yet-gentle drying power comes from Dyson’s patented Air Multiplier technology and intelligent heat control, which helps prevent damage while keeping noise to a minimum.—
Lily Wohlner,
Allure,
8 Oct. 2025
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Let the balloon dry a full 24 hours before popping it.—
Ellen Sturm Niz,
Parents,
8 Oct. 2025
Verb
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As anger fades into apathy and grief is aggravated by guilt, the public also chooses silence.—
Yangyang Cheng,
NPR,
4 Oct. 2025
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While pie crust seems to be fading away, some chefs would rather think completely outside the box by creating a completely different crust.—
Amber Love Bond,
Southern Living,
4 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The pavements were peppered with deep puddles, and grassy areas wilted into mud.—
Fiona Mozley,
Travel + Leisure,
4 Oct. 2025
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Jewell Loyd grabbed four offensive rebounds, with every extra possession mattering in a contest with such slim margins as the Fever refused to wilt.—
Ben Pickman,
New York Times,
1 Oct. 2025
Verb
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For investors, even opposition threats of repeal weaken confidence by raising doubts about long-term policy stability.—
Felicia Jackson,
Forbes.com,
3 Oct. 2025
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While his core supporters remain loyal, sustained disapproval among the broader public could weaken his leverage in negotiations with Congress and erode confidence in his leadership.—
Robert Birsel,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Oct. 2025
Verb
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This can lead your soft tissues to sag into those gaps, causing your muscles to tense up in compensation.—
Brittney Melton,
NPR,
2 Oct. 2025
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Much of the composition is given to the trio of commissioners who, tasked with investigating charges of bias in the trial, upheld the verdict—their faces sagging and stony, their staid officiousness echoing the resolute lines of the courthouse behind them.—
Nicole Rudick,
The New York Review of Books,
2 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Milwaukee rewarded him with a two-year, $11 million contract in July, and, with Damian Lillard gone, Porter is now the point guard, which was confirmed by Doc Rivers a few weeks ago.—
Stan Son,
New York Times,
7 Oct. 2025
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They Chiefs needed just five plays to go 97 yards for the TD.—
Pete Grathoff,
Kansas City Star,
7 Oct. 2025
Verb
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But Kempes had failed to score at the World Cup four years earlier, and started this tournament slowly.—
Michael Cox,
New York Times,
5 Oct. 2025
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Water bottles left behind were filled with black urine – a sign of failing kidneys and dehydration.—
Romina Ruiz-Goiriena,
USA Today,
4 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Wither.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wither. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.
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