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
Last year’s version, which withered on the Senate’s calendar, also included religious organizations.
—
Seth Klamann, Denver Post, 15 Jan. 2026
Voter turnout has plummeted to humiliating lows, and the regime’s pretense to popular mandate has withered.
—Ali Vaez, Time, 15 Jan. 2026
Investor confidence has withered in the wake of a corruption scandal, as probes discovered that $2 billion in government funding for flood management projects had disappeared.
—Angelica Ang, Fortune, 14 Jan. 2026
Jafar Panahi’s Palme d’Or-winning thriller possesses a withering critique of the cruelty and corruption of an authoritarian regime, combined with a blistering sense of humor.
—Glenn Whipp, Los Angeles Times, 12 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for wither
Seth Klamann, Denver Post, 15 Jan. 2026
Voter turnout has plummeted to humiliating lows, and the regime’s pretense to popular mandate has withered.
—Ali Vaez, Time, 15 Jan. 2026
Investor confidence has withered in the wake of a corruption scandal, as probes discovered that $2 billion in government funding for flood management projects had disappeared.
—Angelica Ang, Fortune, 14 Jan. 2026
Jafar Panahi’s Palme d’Or-winning thriller possesses a withering critique of the cruelty and corruption of an authoritarian regime, combined with a blistering sense of humor.
—Glenn Whipp, Los Angeles Times, 12 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for wither
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wither
Verb
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Plus the formula is fast-drying, to prevent flaking and smudging, with a small fiber brush that coats each lash while keeping clumping at bay.—
Conçetta Ciarlo,
Vogue,
3 Feb. 2026
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Humans have always processed food by chopping, cooking, fermenting, drying or freezing.—
Michael I Goran,
The Conversation,
3 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Amid the recent furore, that trust and respect seem to be all but fading.—
Billy Stockwell,
CNN Money,
7 Feb. 2026
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Instead of fading quietly into the dark, 3I/ATLAS flared with activity, developing a glowing coma rich in water vapor, carbon dioxide and organic compounds.—
Samantha Mathewson,
Space.com,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Rather than wilt under the pressure, the Braintree junior decided to deliver in the clutch.—
Brendan Connelly,
Boston Herald,
7 Feb. 2026
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Sun scorch, on the other hand, typically causes plant leaves to wilt, discolor, or turn crispy.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
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In overwhelmingly Democratic districts, the outcome is almost always predetermined, further depressing turnout and weakening accountability.—
Grace Rauh,
New York Daily News,
3 Feb. 2026
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Healthy Rivers and Landscapes’ flexibility represents potentially weakened enforceable safeguards for environmental and tribal groups, as the program relies on voluntary commitments instead of mandatory flow standards.—
Chaewon Chung,
Sacbee.com,
3 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Body oils can help tighten the look of mildly sagging or crepey skin by improving hydration and overall skin health.—
Christa Joanna Lee,
Allure,
5 Feb. 2026
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Keep your core muscles tight, and make sure your hips don't sag.—
Jakob Roze,
Health,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Substitutions will always be scrutinised by supporters when results go badly.—
Andy Naylor,
New York Times,
9 Feb. 2026
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Michael Hicks weighs in on how a copy‑paste bill has lawmakers going after degrees Indiana doesn’t even offer in his latest op-ed.—
Kurtcia Collazo,
IndyStar,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The lawsuits allege all responsible for the balcony's upkeep failed to make the proper repairs prior to the collapse.—
Gillian Stawiszynski,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
7 Feb. 2026
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Morato also failed to connect with a golden opportunity to pull a goal back, shortly before Lorenzo Lucca finally did.—
Paul Taylor,
New York Times,
7 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Wither.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wither. Accessed 10 Feb. 2026.
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