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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Recent Examples of 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
In recent decades, Murdoch, now 94, has subjected his oldest adult children to withering takedowns and has also pitted them against one another.
—The Week Us, TheWeek, 18 Feb. 2026
And the latest additions add to the depth Vanney will need to weather a withering schedule.
—Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times, 18 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for withering
Verb
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
In recent decades, Murdoch, now 94, has subjected his oldest adult children to withering takedowns and has also pitted them against one another.
—The Week Us, TheWeek, 18 Feb. 2026
And the latest additions add to the depth Vanney will need to weather a withering schedule.
—Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times, 18 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for withering
Recent Examples of Synonyms for withering
Noun
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Because the Duggars adhere to a fundamentalist fringe of evangelicalism, the liberal media are often quick to use the family’s failings as a cautionary tale about Christianity in general, and conservatives can be too quick to interpret criticism of the family as criticism of the church.—
Tiana Lowe Doescher,
The Washington Examiner,
20 Mar. 2026
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When teachers raised scores for students at threat of failing—from an F to a D, for example—that actually paid off, preventing those students from repeating a grade and improving their high school graduation rate.—
Jake Angelo,
Fortune,
19 Mar. 2026
Verb
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While some lipsticks tend to be drying, this one is far from it.—
Catharine Malzahn,
Glamour,
18 Mar. 2026
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Fire officials say there's no elevated fire danger today, but early heat like this can start drying vegetation sooner than usual.—
Kenny Choi,
CBS News,
17 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Part of Notre Dame’s identity was fading.—
Andrew Carter,
Chicago Tribune,
17 Mar. 2026
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Limelight hydrangeas bloom from mid-summer to autumn with flower color fading to pinkish red.—
Barbara Gillette,
The Spruce,
16 Mar. 2026
Noun
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All the hallmarks of an economic collapse are there, including the gradual shutdown and deterioration of public services, shortages of basic goods, and major rises in the cost of living.—
Brady Knox,
The Washington Examiner,
14 Mar. 2026
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Beyond next week’s meeting, policymakers will need to be cognizant of balancing new inflation risks from the war in Iran with any signs of deterioration in the labor market.—
Bloomberg News,
Boston Herald,
14 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The next morning, the tops of every plant lie wilting on the ground.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
14 Mar. 2026
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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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If the goal instead is regime weakening—enfeebling the Islamic Republic so the Iranian public could overwhelm it—there are two ways forward.—
Dennis Ross,
The Atlantic,
13 Mar. 2026
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Weak onshore flows will then return Saturday, which combined with a weakening high pressure system are expected to bring five to 10 degrees of cooling to the coasts and valleys but little change across interior sections, according to the weather service.—
Clara Harter,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Mar. 2026
Noun
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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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Maiava’s lower profile may also be linked to Riley’s sagging reputation.—
Stewart Mandel,
New York Times,
11 Mar. 2026
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This week the New York Times reported how the Metropolitan Opera — the world’s largest performing arts institution — is bleeding money, and dipping into its endowment to make up for sagging ticket sales.—
Andrew Silow-Carroll,
Sun Sentinel,
11 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Withering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/withering. Accessed 21 Mar. 2026.
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