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
ABC News, 6 June 2026
Months of withering brutal weather gave way to soccer abandon on the turf, as two of Ottawa’s best junior teams clashed in the sunlight.
—Paula Newton, CNN Money, 6 June 2026
And Vrabel, under withering criticism for his relationship with NFL insider Dianna Russini for going on two months now, gets a welcome change to the conversation.
—Armando Salguero, FOXNews.com, 1 June 2026
Fortunately, the emotional spar fest between the queen of withering glares and snippy comments — award winner Allison Janney — and the onstage king of stammering self involvement — Andrew Rannells — clicks in director/writer Jim Rash dramedy debut.
—Randy Myers, Mercury News, 28 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for withering
Verb
The Chanel suits, dark glasses, nasal voice and withering judgments became part of the national image.
—ABC News, 6 June 2026
Months of withering brutal weather gave way to soccer abandon on the turf, as two of Ottawa’s best junior teams clashed in the sunlight.
—Paula Newton, CNN Money, 6 June 2026
And Vrabel, under withering criticism for his relationship with NFL insider Dianna Russini for going on two months now, gets a welcome change to the conversation.
—Armando Salguero, FOXNews.com, 1 June 2026
Fortunately, the emotional spar fest between the queen of withering glares and snippy comments — award winner Allison Janney — and the onstage king of stammering self involvement — Andrew Rannells — clicks in director/writer Jim Rash dramedy debut.
—Randy Myers, Mercury News, 28 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for withering
Recent Examples of Synonyms for withering
Noun
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Tordillos noted that the potential shortfall from the hotel tax failing would have been just a fraction of the threat posed by the November ballot measure.—
Ryan Macasero,
Mercury News,
18 June 2026
-
The outsize failings of the men in power demand a grand reimagining of the consequences of those failings, and Helen of Nowhere offers up, exhilaratingly and naughtily, a myth for the man who needs to be shuffled offstage one way or another.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
18 June 2026
Verb
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Made from a quick-drying blend of cotton and viscose from bamboo, these pieces feel soft against the skin while remaining breathable and absorbent.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
13 June 2026
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These travel pants from Baleaf are breathable, quick-drying, lightweight, and ultra-stretchy—oh, and the ankle length is a perfect fit for petite shoppers like myself.—
Sophie Dodd,
Travel + Leisure,
12 June 2026
Verb
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Most El Niño events typically begin forming between March and June, strengthen through summer into fall, and peak between November and January before fading in late winter into spring.—
Brandi D. Addison,
USA Today,
15 June 2026
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Market expectations have shifted throughout the war, with broad rate cut expectations fading and being replaced by higher-for-longer interest-rate environments across economies.—
Terri Cullen,Chloe Taylor,Garrett Downs,Anniek Bao,
CNBC,
14 June 2026
Noun
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Oslo University Hospital on June 5 said Mette-Marit had been placed on a waiting list for a lung transplant after a significant deterioration in her health that likely gave her only a year left to live without the surgery.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
17 June 2026
-
That moment revealed profound psychiatric deterioration and human suffering.—
Justyna Rzewinski,
New York Daily News,
16 June 2026
Verb
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All parts of the tree exude juglone, a toxin that causes stunted growth, wilting foliage, and death for tomato plants.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
The Spruce,
17 June 2026
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These will still need regular watering but might just make it through the day without wilting.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
12 June 2026
Verb
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Yet the extremist group has mobilized its members and media outlets to ramp up criticism of the agreement, heaping pressure on Iranian negotiators who have been attempting to extract concessions from a US administration intent on weakening – and possibly ending – the Islamic Republic.—
Tim Lister,
CNN Money,
14 June 2026
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After reaching record levels in the 1990s and 2000s, deforestation declined until the 2019-2022 term of then President Jair Bolsonaro, whose government was widely criticized for weakening environmental protections.—
Gabriela Sa Pessoa,
Fortune,
12 June 2026
Noun
-
Limited evidence suggests that people with genetic deficiencies of CoQ10 who abruptly stop taking it can experience a worsening of kidney function.—
Megan Nunn,
Verywell Health,
16 June 2026
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For example, stopping antidepressants or anxiety medication can lead to severe worsening of the condition or potentially dangerous withdrawals.—
Jesse Pines,
Forbes.com,
6 June 2026
Verb
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Teachers use it as a behavioral bargaining chip, administrators weigh playtime against sagging test scores and researchers argue over how best to structure the minutes.—
Cierra Morgan,
Los Angeles Times,
18 June 2026
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More often, though, Griffin talks about American debt, competitiveness, and sagging productivity.—
Gary Sernovitz,
New Yorker,
15 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Withering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/withering. Accessed 19 Jun. 2026.
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