withers

verb

Definition of withersnext
present tense third-person singular of wither
1
as in dries
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 fades
to lose bodily strength or vigor if he's left on his own, he'll just wither and die

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for withers
  1. dries
  2. fades
  3. weakens
  4. sags
  5. goes
  6. droops
Verb
  • As the scent dries down, blonde woods, bourbon vetiver, and musk linger on the skin.
    — Jenny Berg, Vogue, 4 Aug. 2026
  • The lightweight fabric barely wrinkles, dries quickly, and feels comfortable thanks to the stretchy waistband.
    — Jeaneen Russell, PEOPLE, 30 July 2026
Definition of dries
Verb
  • Every successful technology eventually fades into the background while those fundamentals remain.
    — Michael Edmondson, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026
  • Even after his offence fades, Bouchard’s ability to move the puck out of the zone will have high value.
    — Allan Mitchell, New York Times, 31 July 2026
Definition of fades
Verb
  • In fact, researchers warn that regular use not only weakens healthy sleep but increases the risk of dependence.
    — Joan M. Cook, Time, 31 July 2026
  • Water limits visibility and weakens the effectiveness of traditional surveillance systems such as radar.
    — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 29 July 2026
Definition of weakens
Verb
  • Unfortunately, using too little paint will leave patchy areas and harsh lines, and using too much paint will promote drips and paint that sags.
    — Timothy Dale, The Spruce, 6 July 2026
  • There is no scrapeable archive of how to grasp a wet cup, unload a box that sags in the middle, fold a towel, or help an older adult out of a chair.
    — Robert J. Szczerba, Forbes.com, 23 June 2026
Definition of sags
Verb
  • The Angels’ Leon (Daddy Wags) Wagner goes 3-for-4 with his 28th homer, but is twice thrown out on the bases by a Cleveland outfielder.
    — Chuck Murr, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026
  • Taking a giant leap of faith into the unknown to see where life goes.
    — Chris Arnold, NPR, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of goes
Verb
  • Too thick of a mascara coat, and suddenly my gaze droops.
    — Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 8 Jan. 2026
  • The cream should hold a soft, semi-sturdy peak that gently droops at the tip without collapsing entirely.
    — Gabi De la Rosa, Southern Living, 22 Aug. 2025
Definition of droops
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Browse Nearby Words

withering
withers
withheld
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Cite this Entry

“Withers.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/withers. Accessed 9 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of withers for Spanish Speakers

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