as in failing
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1
as in drying
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in fading
to lose bodily strength or vigor
if he's left on his own, he'll just wither and die
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of withering
Jason Ma, Fortune, 3 May 2026
Played to the ice-queen hilt by the divine Meryl Streep, Miranda’s withering glances and sarcastic putdowns continue to live on and get quoted, no matter the decade.
—Randy Myers, Mercury News, 29 Apr. 2026
Runway is going virulently viral for all the wrong reasons, and its editor, the legendary Miranda Priestly (Meryl Streep), is, for once, at a loss for a withering mot juste when her advertisers demand an explanation.
—Damon Wise, Deadline, 29 Apr. 2026
An increasing number of women also have been forced to grow out their roots given a lack of gasoline and public transportation, coupled with withering budgets, Ramírez said.
—ABC News, 23 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for withering
Verb
Vladimir Putin is losing the Russian people as the economy and his war machine go in reverse amid withering Ukrainian attacks.
—Jason Ma, Fortune, 3 May 2026
Played to the ice-queen hilt by the divine Meryl Streep, Miranda’s withering glances and sarcastic putdowns continue to live on and get quoted, no matter the decade.
—Randy Myers, Mercury News, 29 Apr. 2026
Runway is going virulently viral for all the wrong reasons, and its editor, the legendary Miranda Priestly (Meryl Streep), is, for once, at a loss for a withering mot juste when her advertisers demand an explanation.
—Damon Wise, Deadline, 29 Apr. 2026
An increasing number of women also have been forced to grow out their roots given a lack of gasoline and public transportation, coupled with withering budgets, Ramírez said.
—ABC News, 23 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for withering
Recent Examples of Synonyms for withering
Noun
-
More bailouts would paper over the failings of federal regulation.—
Marc Scribner,
Washington Post,
13 May 2026
-
Equally important is practicing self-care and self-compassion, which, Broder says, means treating yourself with kindness instead of judgment and recognizing that your patterns developed as a way to cope, not as a personal failing.—
Daryl Austin,
USA Today,
12 May 2026
Verb
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Cozy Earth recommends washing them in cold water (without any fabric softener) and drying them on a regular cycle.—
Toni Sutton,
PEOPLE,
11 May 2026
-
Rinse the solution off the slats before drying with a clean towel.—
Ashlyn Needham,
Southern Living,
10 May 2026
Verb
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While fading blooms typically wilt or go limp, wilting of foliage or plant stems is a sign the plant is water stressed.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
9 May 2026
-
Avoid placing rugs in prolonged direct sunlight as this can cause fading.—
Audrey Lee,
Architectural Digest,
8 May 2026
Noun
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The following month, the Veterans Administration filed a report stating that the Nautilus Veterans Hospital was in a severe state of deterioration, mostly because of the dampness from the sea air, which caused the concrete’s steel rods to rust and give way.—
Miami Herald Archives,
Miami Herald,
13 May 2026
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The switch in alliances has coincided with the rapid deterioration of the security situation in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger.—
Brady Knox,
The Washington Examiner,
10 May 2026
Verb
-
Our students are not wilting flowers.—
Paula Wethington,
CBS News,
4 May 2026
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To keep fresh herbs from wilting too quickly, trim the ends, then wrap them in a damp paper towel or cloth before storing.—
Olivia McIntosh,
Martha Stewart,
1 May 2026
Verb
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No ‘victory image’ for Tehran Ruhe similarly argued that Israel wants to avoid any agreement that restores legitimacy to the Iranian regime without fundamentally weakening it.—
Efrat Lachter,
FOXNews.com,
6 May 2026
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Forecasters say geomagnetic activity is gradually weakening, but lingering disturbances in Earth's magnetic field could still spark visible displays overnight, particularly in northern regions.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
6 May 2026
Noun
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However, the incidents have contributed to a worsening of the mood around Madrid and should also be considered notable for that reason.—
Guillermo Rai,
New York Times,
5 May 2026
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The South Bay has been able to absorb thousands of layoffs yet still avoid a worsening of the jobless rate in the region, Hancock noted.—
George Avalos,
Mercury News,
17 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The cushions will stay bouncy thanks to sinuous springs that prevent sagging over time.—
Christina Shepherd McGuire,
PEOPLE,
10 May 2026
-
This is infused in extra-large toner pads for deep firming hydration to refine pores, smooth texture, and visibly lift sagging skin all in one gentle swipe.—
Rosa Jisoo Pyo,
Vogue,
8 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Withering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/withering. Accessed 18 May. 2026.
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