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
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
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
The Sun Devils’ 3-point attack withered under the Horned Frogs’ defense, shooting 3-for-12 for the game.
—Lawrence Dow, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 Jan. 2026
Russian-Cuban ties withered after the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union, plunging Cuba into a grueling depression.
—Los Angeles Times, 8 Jan. 2026
Its unwillingness or inability to act in the face of the offensive brings home, more powerfully than anything else, just how much this branch of government has withered away in recent decades.
—Noah Feldman, Twin Cities, 24 Dec. 2025
Nineties rockers withered under his jaded stare.
—Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 18 Dec. 2025
These talking points, which have been embraced by Republicans and Democrats alike, call on nationalism to reboot an industry withered by decades of retrenchment.
—Colin Jones, New Yorker, 18 Dec. 2025
Adjective
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
Verb
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
The Sun Devils’ 3-point attack withered under the Horned Frogs’ defense, shooting 3-for-12 for the game.
—Lawrence Dow, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 Jan. 2026
Russian-Cuban ties withered after the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union, plunging Cuba into a grueling depression.
—Los Angeles Times, 8 Jan. 2026
Its unwillingness or inability to act in the face of the offensive brings home, more powerfully than anything else, just how much this branch of government has withered away in recent decades.
—Noah Feldman, Twin Cities, 24 Dec. 2025
Nineties rockers withered under his jaded stare.
—Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 18 Dec. 2025
These talking points, which have been embraced by Republicans and Democrats alike, call on nationalism to reboot an industry withered by decades of retrenchment.
—Colin Jones, New Yorker, 18 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for withered
Adjective
-
New stems can become shriveled and fall off the plant, and whole segments might drop if the plant struggles with depleted soil and a too-small pot.—
Megan Hughes,
Better Homes & Gardens,
16 Dec. 2025
-
Lighter pieces that look shriveled signals that the ginger root has lost most of its moisture from sitting in storage or on the shelf too long.—
Jillian Kubala,
Health,
11 Dec. 2025
Verb
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The scientists dried a liquid solution containing the supraball structures on the surface of a commercially available thermoelectric generator (TEG)—a device used to convert light into electricity.—
Chris Young,
Interesting Engineering,
29 Jan. 2026
-
It's typically dried rather than eaten raw, with a brittle shell and stringy pulp that's traditionally cracked open and steeped to make a mildly sweet, herbal tea.—
Deirdre Bardolf,
FOXNews.com,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Her nurse scooped her up and ran to put her into a cold bath, and slowly the motions faded.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Jan. 2026
-
Sun-faded and well-worn, a great pair of distressed jeans can tell a story in its patches and tears.—
Rosie Jarman,
Vogue,
27 Jan. 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
-
Demand weakened most sharply in Europe.—
Sujita Sinha,
Interesting Engineering,
29 Jan. 2026
-
In Lebanon, the once formidable Hezbollah has been significantly weakened after 13 months of conflict with Israel and now faces a domestic disarmament campaign.—
Mostafa Salem,
CNN Money,
29 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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During the conversation, Van Der Beek opened up about the overwhelming response to his gaunt appearance during September's Dawson's Creek reunion.—
Rachel McRady,
PEOPLE,
19 Dec. 2025
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Van Der Beek's notably gaunt face sparked speculation about his condition amid his cancer battle.—
Edward Segarra,
USA Today,
19 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Pre-festival enthusiasm sagged compared to the inaugural year.—
Théoden Janes,
Charlotte Observer,
8 Jan. 2026
-
His public approval has mostly sagged since his inauguration as Americans worry about the economy.—
Reuters
Wire Service,
Dallas Morning News,
8 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Later archeological research, including forensic examination of skeletal remains, has turned up no evidence for cannibalism or for a particularly bellicose society on Rapa Nui.—
Margaret Talbot,
New Yorker,
26 Jan. 2026
-
The oldest trace of syphilis For this research, scientists recovered the genome of the bacterium Treponema pallidum from the skeletal remains of an ancient hunter-gatherer buried in a rock shelter in Sabana de Bogotá, Colombia.—
Maria Mocerino,
Interesting Engineering,
24 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Withered.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/withered. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
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