WITHERS Synonyms: 49 Similar and Opposite Words

withers

verb

Definition of withers

present tense third-person singular of wither

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

Verb

Airflow heats the barrel, and dries the hair while curling it in a process that uses 40 percent less energy than hair-dryer and brush methods.

— Samantha Conti, Footwear News, 9 July 2026
Notably, like my favorite Make Beauty skin tint, the concealer is super moisturizing, and dries down to look like an extension of my skin rather than settling into fine lines with a papery, flaky finish.

— Irene Richardson, InStyle, 1 July 2026

Definition of dries

Verb

Without someone to introduce the work, answer questions, or model what a career in the field looks like, the specialty fades into the background.

— Gregory McDonald, STAT, 13 July 2026
Their heads are orange, stark against the dark blue hue of their torso, which fades to white, then orange and finally black down the length of their tails.

— Rylan DiGiacomo-Rapp, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 July 2026

Definition of fades

Verb

That weakens the case for mediation as protection without producing a replacement, which is why Qatar will keep it rather than trade it.

— Güney Yıldız, Forbes.com, 18 July 2026
As the rest of the world buys its assets, the reserve currency is structurally overvalued and weakens competitiveness.

— Philipp Carlsson-Szlezak, Fortune, 17 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

Different departments and agencies have various policies outlining what actions are appropriate if a car stop or other incident goes awry.

— Nicki Brown, CNN Money, 18 July 2026
As fans across the world prepare to celebrate and cheer on their team of choice, Don Julio Tequila is letting the world know that no matter where the cup goes once it’s won, it’s being battled for in New York.

— Emily Rella, PEOPLE, 18 July 2026

Definition of goes

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

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Withers.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/withers. Accessed 20 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of withers

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on withers

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

raffish

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?

Is it 'used to' or 'use to'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

Why do we say 'fly off the handle'?

Popular

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

Games & Quizzes