1
as in to droop
to be limp from lack of water or vigor
the plants wilted after I forgot to water them for three whole days
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to fade
to lose bodily strength or vigor
she had wilted a bit after walking around the hot and humid city
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to dry
to lose liveliness, force, or freshness
after six solid hours of painting, his energy was starting to wilt
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of wilt
Instead of letting fresh spinach leaves wilt in your fridge, opt for a frozen bag that lasts longer.
—
Sarah Bence, Verywell Health, 1 May 2026
To keep fresh herbs from wilting too quickly, trim the ends, then wrap them in a damp paper towel or cloth before storing.
—Olivia McIntosh, Martha Stewart, 1 May 2026
Many of the symptoms of overwatering — wilting, yellowing leaves, drooping stems — look almost identical to those of underwatering, which is why so many people respond by reaching for the watering can again.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Sacbee.com, 29 Apr. 2026
Cook, covered, until spinach is wilted, about 3 minutes.
—Maddy Bendgen, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for wilt
Sarah Bence, Verywell Health, 1 May 2026
To keep fresh herbs from wilting too quickly, trim the ends, then wrap them in a damp paper towel or cloth before storing.
—Olivia McIntosh, Martha Stewart, 1 May 2026
Many of the symptoms of overwatering — wilting, yellowing leaves, drooping stems — look almost identical to those of underwatering, which is why so many people respond by reaching for the watering can again.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Sacbee.com, 29 Apr. 2026
Cook, covered, until spinach is wilted, about 3 minutes.
—Maddy Bendgen, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for wilt
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wilt
Verb
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Start with tall bluebonnet stems on the left, fill the middle with medium-height ornamental onions, and finish the arrangement with softly drooping sweet peas on the right.—
Maria Sabella,
Better Homes & Gardens,
29 Apr. 2026
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The chickens stomp with swift feet like an Irish step dancer, keeping their tails erect and wings drooped.—
Laura Baisas,
Popular Science,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The practice didn’t fade with the modern age; women across generations have kept it alive.—
Boutheina Ben Salem,
Vogue,
8 May 2026
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After the rogue’s gallery is introduced early on, nearly everyone except for Tim, Elliot, and Rebecca fades into the background, although delightfully, Emma Thompson nails her brief comedic role as a brusque solicitor handling George’s last will and testament.—
Wilson Chapman,
IndieWire,
8 May 2026
Verb
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These cleaning pals can often be thrown in the washer and hung out to dry.—
Jessica Safavimehr,
Southern Living,
12 May 2026
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Ana dried her hands on a dishtowel.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
12 May 2026
Verb
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After months of fundraising in a project spearheaded by the Fairfield Lions Club in collaboration with the city, the arch that has hung over Texas Street for more than a century started coming down piece by piece.—
Ashley Sharp,
CBS News,
12 May 2026
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The question hung like black crepe in his family’s small apartment on Buffalo’s distressed east side.—
Dan Barry,
New York Times,
12 May 2026
Verb
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As consumer activity has weakened, the central bank has warned about the growing misalignment between real sentiment and headline GDP growth.—
Stephanie Yang,
CNN Money,
12 May 2026
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Heat can shrink fabrics, fade colors and weaken elastic fibers, which shortens the life of garments that would otherwise hold up for years.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Miami Herald,
12 May 2026
Verb
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Instead of a withering blast that annihilates you instantly, the real killer would be a highly elevated risk of cancer and degenerative diseases over time.—
Alan Bradley,
Space.com,
8 May 2026
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At a raucous commission meeting Tuesday, City Manager Rickelle Williams faced a storm of withering accusations in her initial job evaluation — mostly from Mayor Dean Trantalis, who eagerly supported hiring Williams last year but now scorns her in public.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
8 May 2026
Verb
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This is infused in extra-large toner pads for deep firming hydration to refine pores, smooth texture, and visibly lift sagging skin all in one gentle swipe.—
Rosa Jisoo Pyo,
Vogue,
8 May 2026
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Another shopper highlighted that the fabric has just the right amount of structure to drape well without sagging or clinging.—
Staff Author,
Southern Living,
6 May 2026
Verb
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As co-owner of the Australian team along with fellow Hollywood star Hugh Jackman and Slingsby, Reynolds went practice racing on Friday and actually won the race.—
Andrew Rice,
New York Times,
11 May 2026
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The vibe of the ensuing sketch could go either way.—
Alex Barasch,
New Yorker,
11 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Wilt.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wilt. Accessed 13 May. 2026.
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