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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of withering
David Millward,
The Washington Examiner,
7 June 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for withering
Verb
Rick Dolliver, a lobsterman who also runs a popular bar in the town, gave a withering verdict on the Democratic hopeful.
—
David Millward,
The Washington Examiner,
7 June 2026
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
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.
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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.
Verb
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The assessment also confirmed a 100 percent reduction in water usage for the crops, a critical metric for water-stressed growing regions such as the Texas High Plains, which sits above the rapidly drying Ogallala Aquifer.
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A lot of anti-aging skincare contains ingredients like retinol that can be drying and irritating, but Cetaphil has a possible solution.
Verb
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Their self-cleaning nature means blooms drop naturally after fading, eliminating tedious deadheading.
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Halsey and her fans’ outrage over an old album review is showing no signs of fading.
Noun
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The National Institute of Standards and Technology said long-term corrosion and the failure of multiple slab-to-column connections likely contributed to a progressive collapse after weeks of structural deterioration.
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Heston is at his most gleefully cynical as Robert Thorn, a police detective who lives and works in a New York City decimated by environmental deterioration and dwindling resources.
Verb
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While wearing the glasses, a wearer can ask questions about topics in one's surroundings, like asking for more information about a landmark on vacation, identifying care instructions for a wilting plant or discovering a full recipe for a dish at a favorite restaurant.
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Intended as a celebration of the progress embodied by the nation's first Black leader, its Juneteenth unveiling comes at a time when his agenda - and broader diversity initiatives - are wilting from a decade of concerted attack.
Verb
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The hurricane-weakening effects of El Niño may be positive for property and casualty insurers in the Northern Hemisphere.
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An unpopular war, a structurally sound economy, but maybe GDP weakening, unemployment strong, but consumer confidence weakening.
Noun
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Limited evidence suggests that people with genetic deficiencies of CoQ10 who abruptly stop taking it can experience a worsening of kidney function.
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For example, stopping antidepressants or anxiety medication can lead to severe worsening of the condition or potentially dangerous withdrawals.
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.
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More often, though, Griffin talks about American debt, competitiveness, and sagging productivity.
Cite this Entry
“Withering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/withering. Accessed 25 Jun. 2026.
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