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
Relevance
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
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 wither
Then, in 2022, another Measure A update withered at the polls, with 56% of the votes against it; that measure, which was also citizen-led, needed a simple majority to pass.
—
Ariane Lange, Sacbee.com, 11 Mar. 2026
Old wooden tables have withered and split after likely years exposed to the elements.
—Phillip Molnar, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Mar. 2026
This is a party that had been allowed by national Democrats and the DNC, probably going back to the 2008 presidential election and the loss of the 50-states strategy from Howard Dean, to just wither on the vine—no resources.
—David Frum, The Atlantic, 11 Mar. 2026
The former Florida State Seminole seeking his first win since 2021 withered while facing Bhatia’s birdie barrage and his eagle at the par-5 16th hole.
—Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for wither
Ariane Lange, Sacbee.com, 11 Mar. 2026
Old wooden tables have withered and split after likely years exposed to the elements.
—Phillip Molnar, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Mar. 2026
This is a party that had been allowed by national Democrats and the DNC, probably going back to the 2008 presidential election and the loss of the 50-states strategy from Howard Dean, to just wither on the vine—no resources.
—David Frum, The Atlantic, 11 Mar. 2026
The former Florida State Seminole seeking his first win since 2021 withered while facing Bhatia’s birdie barrage and his eagle at the par-5 16th hole.
—Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for wither
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wither
Verb
-
Glossing 5-Min Lamination Mask This mask became an instant winter-hair hero for me, helping to revive my dried-out, dull lengths with each use.—
Catharine Malzahn,
Glamour,
18 Mar. 2026
-
Fire officials say there's no elevated fire danger today, but early heat like this can start drying vegetation sooner than usual.—
Kenny Choi,
CBS News,
17 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
But in 2026, such dreams faded fast.—
Caoimhe O'Neill,
New York Times,
21 Mar. 2026
-
The Ravel composition for which the film is named plays over a black screen, then fades into birdsong.—
Holden Seidlitz,
New Yorker,
20 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
And kudos to the Horns, who didn't wilt despite taking some huge body shots from a quality opponent.—
Cedric Golden,
Austin American Statesman,
18 Mar. 2026
-
The Illini have lost four overtime games and seem to wilt in the clutch.—
Paul Sullivan,
Chicago Tribune,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
When presidents sidestep formal addresses and Congress declines to insist upon them, the deliberative architecture of the republic weakens.—
Kenneth Zagacki,
Sun Sentinel,
17 Mar. 2026
-
High supply and weakening renter demand have apartment landlords living in an ever-more competitive space.—
Diana Olick,
CNBC,
17 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Release, for contouring and pressure relief; and Adaptive, to keep the bed from sagging.—
Nashia Baker,
Architectural Digest,
19 Mar. 2026
-
The roof flakes, the porch sags.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
18 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
His Jayhawks went 1-1 at the Big 12 tournament, defeating TCU 78-73 on Thursday before getting clobbered by Houston 69-47 in Friday’s semifinals.—
Gary Bedore,
Kansas City Star,
16 Mar. 2026
-
The team that went undefeated in the regular season, racked up more victories than anyone but Duke and Arizona -- and fewer losses than any team at all -- is anything but your run-of-the-mill basketball behemoth.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
That too is likely to fail as lawmakers hold a rare weekend session.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
21 Mar. 2026
-
After failing to score in three consecutive league games, Farke must be tempted to tweak the system.—
Beren Cross,
New York Times,
20 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Wither.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wither. Accessed 22 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
