as in shriveled
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1
as in dried
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
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2
as in faded
to lose bodily strength or vigor
if he's left on his own, he'll just wither and die
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Recent Examples of withered
Teresa Woodard, Midwest Living, 14 Apr. 2026
Heaps of last summer’s grassy sedge lay withered around us.
—Quanta Magazine, 6 Apr. 2026
Soft winds threaten to blow the withered flowers away.
—Celina Tebor, CNN Money, 19 Mar. 2026
Dead fruit rotted on withered evergreens, remnants of a record-cold February.
—Literary Hub, 23 Feb. 2026
Floridians can see it in the withered tones of roadside vegetation and hear it in the dry crunch of their once-green lawns.
—Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 22 Feb. 2026
Among other moves this offseason, the Kings traded Jonas Valančiūnas for the withered remains of Dario Šarić and passed on a golden opportunity to lock in 3-and-D wing Keon Ellis at a value rate by declining his team option and re-signing him as a restricted free agent.
—John Hollinger, New York Times, 10 Oct. 2025
During Marie’s private lesson with Cipher, Cate and Jordan infiltrate the dean’s house, finding a withered old man in a hyperbaric chamber.
—Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 24 Sep. 2025
Given America’s withered afloat support capabilities, shepherding fleets of small craft around Cape Horn is an almost insurmountable logistical challenge.
—Craig Hooper, Forbes.com, 14 Aug. 2025
Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Mar. 2026
But as the airline increasingly relied on land planes, its ties to Dinner Key withered.
—Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 26 Mar. 2026
Now most of the great passenger railroads have withered and died, and they have been replaced by Amtrak, which has mammoth troubles of its own.
—Rafaela Jinich, The Atlantic, 26 Mar. 2026
The Navy effectively stopped building ships at the close of the cold war and the sophisticated industrial base supporting ship construction – both the skilled workforce and the supply chain – withered for more than a generation.
—Edmund H. Mahony, Hartford Courant, 23 Mar. 2026
The Wolverines withered in being outscored 39-17 over the final 12 minutes.
—ABC News, 23 Mar. 2026
In elsewhere about his relationships with his parents, his girlfriend, and love interests that withered to nothing.
—Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 13 Mar. 2026
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
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
Adjective
Either shear the whole plant by a third or selectively cut withered flowers and leggy stems.
—Teresa Woodard, Midwest Living, 14 Apr. 2026
Heaps of last summer’s grassy sedge lay withered around us.
—Quanta Magazine, 6 Apr. 2026
Soft winds threaten to blow the withered flowers away.
—Celina Tebor, CNN Money, 19 Mar. 2026
Dead fruit rotted on withered evergreens, remnants of a record-cold February.
—Literary Hub, 23 Feb. 2026
Floridians can see it in the withered tones of roadside vegetation and hear it in the dry crunch of their once-green lawns.
—Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 22 Feb. 2026
Among other moves this offseason, the Kings traded Jonas Valančiūnas for the withered remains of Dario Šarić and passed on a golden opportunity to lock in 3-and-D wing Keon Ellis at a value rate by declining his team option and re-signing him as a restricted free agent.
—John Hollinger, New York Times, 10 Oct. 2025
During Marie’s private lesson with Cipher, Cate and Jordan infiltrate the dean’s house, finding a withered old man in a hyperbaric chamber.
—Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 24 Sep. 2025
Given America’s withered afloat support capabilities, shepherding fleets of small craft around Cape Horn is an almost insurmountable logistical challenge.
—Craig Hooper, Forbes.com, 14 Aug. 2025
Verb
Then the strength of their team withered and left them still seeking their first victory under new manager Craig Stammen.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Mar. 2026
But as the airline increasingly relied on land planes, its ties to Dinner Key withered.
—Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 26 Mar. 2026
Now most of the great passenger railroads have withered and died, and they have been replaced by Amtrak, which has mammoth troubles of its own.
—Rafaela Jinich, The Atlantic, 26 Mar. 2026
The Navy effectively stopped building ships at the close of the cold war and the sophisticated industrial base supporting ship construction – both the skilled workforce and the supply chain – withered for more than a generation.
—Edmund H. Mahony, Hartford Courant, 23 Mar. 2026
The Wolverines withered in being outscored 39-17 over the final 12 minutes.
—ABC News, 23 Mar. 2026
In elsewhere about his relationships with his parents, his girlfriend, and love interests that withered to nothing.
—Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 13 Mar. 2026
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for withered
Adjective
-
Properly watering succulents keeps them healthy and prevents problems like root rot and shriveled leaves.—
Madeline Buiano,
Martha Stewart,
16 Feb. 2026
-
To avoid finding shriveled potatoes in your pantry, start with fresh, firm potatoes.—
Lauren David,
Southern Living,
15 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
This bright take on the deli counter staple has dried cranberries, celery, and sweet pickle relish for a filling and flavorful dish.—
Amanda Favazza,
Southern Living,
15 Apr. 2026
-
The color is rich and dark, as is the flavor with notes of ripe and dried fruit, dark chocolate, roasted espresso beans, raisin, fig, cherry cola, peaches, menthol, and blood orange.—
Jonah Flicker,
Robb Report,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The shine on the Dodgers’ most historic rivalry has faded, right along with the Giants.—
Bill Shaikin,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Apr. 2026
-
Months later, Vandersloot said any hurt feelings caused by Reese’s comments have faded into the background.—
Julia Poe,
Chicago Tribune,
21 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
In front of the butcher’s near where the painter lives, a vendor, wizened and bent, sets up shop.—
Amir Ahmadi Arian,
The Dial,
15 Jan. 2026
-
But more alarming than the ways in which this physical space could turn against us was the simple metaphor of a wizened little man pulling a boat down a river in the dark.—
Ann Patchett,
New Yorker,
29 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
With the war in Iraq raging, the 84-year-old pope, weakened by Parkinson’s disease and less than a year from his death, condemned the war in Iraq with Bush sitting right next to him.—
Orlando Sentinel,
The Orlando Sentinel,
15 Apr. 2026
-
Hezbollah, though weakened in its last war with Israel that ended in November 2024, still fires drones, rockets and artillery daily into northern Israel and on ground troops inside Lebanon.—
Kareem Chehayeb,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
In the courtroom, Alfortish’s face looked gaunt after spending roughly a year in prison, and his hair, thinning now, had gone white.—
Patrick Radden Keefe,
New Yorker,
13 Apr. 2026
-
We’re introduced to its uncanny backdrop through the eyes of protagonist Heinrich, or Hein (Paul Boche), a gaunt young man who returns by boat after 14 years away.—
Siddhant Adlakha,
Variety,
12 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Broadway box office sagged a bit last week, possibly as the previous week’s Easter vacationers and spring-breakers returned home and a crowded, 40-show production slate with lots of newcomers competed with one another for attention.—
Greg Evans,
Deadline,
21 Apr. 2026
-
Perhaps worse, ace Sandy Alcantara, whom the budget ball Fish are expected to trade, has sagged a bit after two great starts to open.—
Greg Cote
April 19,
Miami Herald,
19 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
After your cave tour, try your hand at gem mining or pursue the impressive exhibit of relics, fossils, and skeletal artifacts, including the remains of a prehistoric bear that dates back 32,300 years.—
Kristy Tolley,
Travel + Leisure,
14 Apr. 2026
-
Fans familiar with 1985’s beat-tastic, falsetto-fluttery, Technicolor masterpiece Cupid & Psyche 85 may blanch at Songs to Remember’s wispy skeletal attempts at dub and acoustic pop (especially since the album has, until now, been out of print and unavailable on streaming).—
Alfred Soto,
Pitchfork,
11 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Withered.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/withered. Accessed 24 Apr. 2026.
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