: acting or serving to cut down or destroy : devastating
a withering fire from the enemy
a withering rebuke
Examples of withering in a Sentence
The book has been the subject of withering criticism.
She gave me a withering look.
Recent Examples on the Web
The show’s perspective on charter schools becomes all the more withering when Ava comes around to Barbara’s point of view.
—
Jessica Winter, The New Yorker, 16 Mar. 2023
Esper has come under withering criticism for using that term, and Mattis joined in Wednesay.
—Deirdre Shesgreen, USA TODAY, 3 June 2020
See all Example Sentences for withering 
Jessica Winter, The New Yorker, 16 Mar. 2023
Esper has come under withering criticism for using that term, and Mattis joined in Wednesay.
—Deirdre Shesgreen, USA TODAY, 3 June 2020
See all Example Sentences for withering
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'withering.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near withering
Cite this Entry
“Withering.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/withering. Accessed 29 May. 2024.
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