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
Laylan Connelly, Oc Register, 14 Mar. 2026
Businesses in border towns like Buffalo and Bellingham, Washington, are withering.
—Nathaniel Meyersohn, CNN Money, 5 Mar. 2026
In reality, the effect a low-gravity environment would have on the human body over time would be withering.
—Alan Bradley, Space.com, 21 Feb. 2026
Daytime and late night, for sure, have been withering faster than other aspects of the traditional TV business.
—Rick Porter, HollywoodReporter, 21 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for withering
Verb
In the ’80s, a withering syndrome bacteria — the origin of which remains a mystery — dropped the population further.
—Laylan Connelly, Oc Register, 14 Mar. 2026
Businesses in border towns like Buffalo and Bellingham, Washington, are withering.
—Nathaniel Meyersohn, CNN Money, 5 Mar. 2026
In reality, the effect a low-gravity environment would have on the human body over time would be withering.
—Alan Bradley, Space.com, 21 Feb. 2026
Daytime and late night, for sure, have been withering faster than other aspects of the traditional TV business.
—Rick Porter, HollywoodReporter, 21 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for withering
Recent Examples of Synonyms for withering
Noun
-
Isolated by its beautiful, rugged mountains, West Virginia sits entirely within Appalachia and has long been listed at the bottom of a laundry list of failings, including poor health and a lack of education.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
9 Apr. 2026
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The commitment angst plaguing Charlie and Emma over Emma’s secret seems to have a lot to do with several contemporary concerns—mixed messaging about gender roles, confusion over what constitutes a moral failing—that yield knee-jerk responses.—
Shirley Li,
The Atlantic,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Most bidet users only use a square of toilet paper for drying.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
13 Apr. 2026
-
Avoid cleaning windows in direct sunlight to prevent the cleaning solution from drying too fast.—
Ashley Chalmers,
The Spruce,
12 Apr. 2026
Verb
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As in this moisturizing CeraVe cream, beta-hydroxy acid (BHA) is able to penetrate past superficial layers to turn skin into a smooth canvas while fading age spots and hyperpigmentation.—
Tamim Alnuweiri,
InStyle,
13 Apr. 2026
-
The letters are printed on the sides of the keys rather than the top, which prevents fading.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
10 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Still, any miscalculation or direct confrontation at sea could tip the diplomatic posturing into rapid deterioration and risk jeopardizing the fragile stability in the detente between Washington and Beijing.—
Anniek Bao,
CNBC,
15 Apr. 2026
-
Toss any berries showing signs of deterioration.—
Jessica Farthing,
Southern Living,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The next morning, the tops of every plant lie wilting on the ground.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
14 Mar. 2026
-
Rotten flowers sit wilting in a vase, the fireplace is lit, and clothes are strewn around.—
Aramide Tinubu,
Variety,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
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However, the brand has seen month-on-month declines in sales since September 2025, pointing to weakening momentum in its core NEV lineup.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
12 Apr. 2026
-
However, some Democrats warn against weakening their candidates when facing a Republican Party that’s flush with cash.—
Leah Askarinam,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Two of the people with MS, including Miller, have progressive MS, a form of the disease marked by gradual worsening of neurological function and disabilities over time.—
Kaitlin Sullivan,
NBC news,
15 Mar. 2026
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With America’s loneliness epidemic worsening, there’s a real risk of suicide rates continuing to rise.—
Sam Manzella,
Flow Space,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
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But Minnesota’s best defensive strategy against Jokic in past playoff trips has involved sagging off a Denver non-shooter to supply additional help onto the superstar big man.—
Jace Frederick,
Twin Cities,
15 Apr. 2026
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The front glass had been blown out, a support beam knocked askew and ceiling panels sagging inside.—
Tammy Ljungblad,
Kansas City Star,
14 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Withering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/withering. Accessed 20 Apr. 2026.
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