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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in faded
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
as in shrivelled
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of withered
John Hollinger, New York Times, 10 Oct. 2025
Hidden behind a large flowerpot with a single withered flower, the windows are covered over by a grayish-yellow curtain, brittle with lager fumes.
—Zuzana Říhová, Literary Hub, 26 Sep. 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
Mohammed R. Mhawish, New Yorker, 14 Oct. 2025
But previous Daniel Jones models would have withered after such an ugly start and retreated to an all-checkdown menu for the rest of the game.
—J.j. Bailey, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025
Competition, however, has withered in American elections.
—Craig Gilbert, jsonline.com, 25 Sep. 2025
Another media outlet withered under government pressure, ensuring that the administration will continue to extort and exact retribution on broadcasters and publishers who criticize it.
—Hugh Cameron, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Sep. 2025
Many of the plants have bolted or gone to seed or withered in the heat.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 5 Sep. 2025
In the United States, the middle layer of agriculture — small to mid-sized processors, tanneries, and aggregators — has withered under decades of globalization.
—Esha Chhabra, Forbes.com, 27 Aug. 2025
Although Dodik has threatened to defy the ruling, Mujanović said much of his support base in the entity has withered away.
—Christian Edwards, CNN Money, 9 Aug. 2025
But over time, lovers vanished, friendships withered, and purpose drained away.
—Shai Tubali, Big Think, 5 Aug. 2025
Verb
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
Hidden behind a large flowerpot with a single withered flower, the windows are covered over by a grayish-yellow curtain, brittle with lager fumes.
—Zuzana Říhová, Literary Hub, 26 Sep. 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
Adjective
Most of those who shaped or even marginally influenced the events of October 7th are gone, leaving Gaza’s authority withered to the point that even managing the hostages has become paralyzingly difficult.
—Mohammed R. Mhawish, New Yorker, 14 Oct. 2025
But previous Daniel Jones models would have withered after such an ugly start and retreated to an all-checkdown menu for the rest of the game.
—J.j. Bailey, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025
Competition, however, has withered in American elections.
—Craig Gilbert, jsonline.com, 25 Sep. 2025
Another media outlet withered under government pressure, ensuring that the administration will continue to extort and exact retribution on broadcasters and publishers who criticize it.
—Hugh Cameron, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Sep. 2025
Many of the plants have bolted or gone to seed or withered in the heat.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 5 Sep. 2025
In the United States, the middle layer of agriculture — small to mid-sized processors, tanneries, and aggregators — has withered under decades of globalization.
—Esha Chhabra, Forbes.com, 27 Aug. 2025
Although Dodik has threatened to defy the ruling, Mujanović said much of his support base in the entity has withered away.
—Christian Edwards, CNN Money, 9 Aug. 2025
But over time, lovers vanished, friendships withered, and purpose drained away.
—Shai Tubali, Big Think, 5 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for withered
Verb
-
Assuming the same is true of the new specimens, the carcasses would have dried in the sun in a week or two.—
Amanda Schupak,
CNN Money,
23 Oct. 2025
-
On the other hand, washable filters are designed to last for the lifetime of the equipment, as long as they are cleaned, dried, and reinstalled regularly.—
Mary Cornetta,
Better Homes & Gardens,
23 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Hopes of Orange County renters for any noteworthy discounting have faded.—
Jonathan Lansner,
Oc Register,
22 Oct. 2025
-
In time, the lyrical controversy faded, but it was never really resolved.—
Dan Beck,
Variety,
21 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
While the very high end of the market is strong, the aspirational luxury market has weakened due to economic pressures.—
Rosemary Feitelberg,
Footwear News,
17 Oct. 2025
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The White House also significantly weakened the power of that agency, allowing financial firms to potentially operate with less regulatory oversight.—
Rachyl Jones,
semafor.com,
16 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The counterculture had curdled, Vietnam was over but unsettled, and the economy sagged into stagflation.—
Eric Cortellessa,
Time,
25 Sep. 2025
-
The Democratic Party’s brand — as well as the approval rating for some of the state’s top Democratic officials — has indeed sagged, even in solidly blue Colorado, according to a recent poll.—
Seth Klamann,
Denver Post,
22 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
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
-
Arsenal also agreed a deal for another teenager, the 16-year-old Shamrock Rovers midfielder Victor Ozhianvuna, a wizened old veteran by comparison.—
Nick Miller,
New York Times,
25 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Withered.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/withered. Accessed 26 Oct. 2025.
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