as in failing
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
1
as in drooping
to be limp from lack of water or vigor
the plants wilted after I forgot to water them for three whole days
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in fading
to lose bodily strength or vigor
she had wilted a bit after walking around the hot and humid city
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in drying
to lose liveliness, force, or freshness
after six solid hours of painting, his energy was starting to wilt
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of wilting
Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 16 Mar. 2026
The first sign your peace lily is thirsty will be yellowing and wilting leaves.
—Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 Jan. 2026
No wilting languor on this veranda — for that matter, no veranda either — just ferocity, desperation, and, of course, brutal desire.
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 4 Dec. 2025
Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 31 May 2026
Locate the wilting or dead part of the plant.
—Tessa Cooper, The Spruce, 27 May 2026
This caused wilting, stunted crop growth, tree die-back and lower yields, while increasing global cocoa prices even more.
—Indrabati Lahiri, Forbes.com, 25 May 2026
Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 31 May 2026
Don't always assume a wilting plant is dehydrated.
—Samantha Johnson, Martha Stewart, 30 May 2026
Beating the spotlight-wilting Maple Leafs was one thing.
—Sean McIndoe, New York Times, 11 May 2026
Our students are not wilting flowers.
—Paula Wethington, CBS News, 4 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
The relationship between Washington and London has been wilting for years, Bergmann said, starting with the end of the Cold War and the United States putting less emphasis on Russia and Europe.
—Michael Collins, USA Today, 25 Apr. 2026
Wilting Leaves Are Not Normal Don’t assume that leaves yellowing or wilting tomato plant leaves from the bottom up as the season progresses is normal.
—Gemma Johnstone, The Spruce, 24 Apr. 2026
Why are my basil cuttings wilting in water?
—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 Apr. 2026
Adjective
Keep an eye out for wilting leaves, and check the soil for dryness.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 16 Mar. 2026
The first sign your peace lily is thirsty will be yellowing and wilting leaves.
—Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 Jan. 2026
No wilting languor on this veranda — for that matter, no veranda either — just ferocity, desperation, and, of course, brutal desire.
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 4 Dec. 2025
Noun
If your plant is healthy, then the wilting should start to subside by the evening when the temperature has cooled down.
—Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 31 May 2026
Locate the wilting or dead part of the plant.
—Tessa Cooper, The Spruce, 27 May 2026
This caused wilting, stunted crop growth, tree die-back and lower yields, while increasing global cocoa prices even more.
—Indrabati Lahiri, Forbes.com, 25 May 2026
Verb
Common Causes Of Wilting Zucchini Leaves There are a few common culprits that play into zucchini leaves wilting.
—Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 31 May 2026
Don't always assume a wilting plant is dehydrated.
—Samantha Johnson, Martha Stewart, 30 May 2026
Beating the spotlight-wilting Maple Leafs was one thing.
—Sean McIndoe, New York Times, 11 May 2026
Our students are not wilting flowers.
—Paula Wethington, CBS News, 4 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
The relationship between Washington and London has been wilting for years, Bergmann said, starting with the end of the Cold War and the United States putting less emphasis on Russia and Europe.
—Michael Collins, USA Today, 25 Apr. 2026
Wilting Leaves Are Not Normal Don’t assume that leaves yellowing or wilting tomato plant leaves from the bottom up as the season progresses is normal.
—Gemma Johnstone, The Spruce, 24 Apr. 2026
Why are my basil cuttings wilting in water?
—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wilting
Noun
-
The director explains that there’s a very real weight stigma that exists in society and that due to that it’s often suggested that being in a larger body is somehow a moral failing.—
Nicole Fell,
HollywoodReporter,
3 June 2026
-
Mary disrupts Clark’s equilibrium with the Backrooms by refusing to validate his excuses for his behavior, fully calling out his failings, his petty assholery, and his glib, solipsistic lies.—
Tasha Robinson,
Vulture,
29 May 2026
Verb
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As of this writing, Becerra holds his advantage, or what remains of it, and looks on track to take the drooping cake.—
Nathan Heller,
New Yorker,
1 June 2026
-
According to gardening expert Lucie Bradley, damping off is the main reason seedlings might stop growing before drooping and dying.—
Michelle Mastro,
The Spruce,
23 May 2026
Verb
-
At Eau Bar during early sunset, spring for a poolside lounger to catch a soul-stirring ceremony of bodu beru drummers walking the edge of a circular infinity pool, torch-lighting a fire ring backed by a fading horizon.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
1 June 2026
-
The components might be familiar—guitars that sound like they’re played through a busted Zenith TV at full volume, heavy acoustic strumming à la ’90s folk-grunge group Days of the New, Slocum’s fading read-out of a voice—but they’re all pulled into slightly unusual shapes.—
Sadie Sartini Garner,
Pitchfork,
1 June 2026
Verb
-
Making the powder involves several steps, including milk testing and pasteurization, the separation of curds and whey, draining and pasteurizing the liquid whey, and then sending it to a processing facility to remove more liquid via evaporation and spray drying.—
Alyssa Goldberg,
USA Today,
2 June 2026
-
For the best results, all the experts agree on air drying the sheets.—
Sheila Kim,
The Spruce,
31 May 2026
Noun
-
This weakening of currency, combined with inflated jet fuel prices, has also led to one of the country’s major airlines, Air India, to cancel more than a quarter of its international flights between June and August.—
Priyanka Salve,
CNBC,
28 May 2026
-
Wall Street’s primary concern is competition from Anthropic and OpenAI weakening demand and pricing power for its customer relationship management software, which for years drove robust growth at high margins.—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
27 May 2026
Verb
-
There really was broccoli hanging from the dugout fence for Mississippi State during their first-ever appearance at the Women’s College World Series on Friday.—
Molly Keshin,
New York Times,
31 May 2026
-
Global spending on agentic AI is growing exponentially, and the low-hanging use cases are largely harvested by now.—
Alexander Puutio,
Forbes.com,
31 May 2026
Verb
-
And a photo attached to a city inspection conducted just days before the collapse for a pending litter case showed the exterior of the building apparently in poor condition with the roof visibly sagging.—
Noelle Alviz-Gransee,
Kansas City Star,
4 June 2026
-
Morale among the men was sagging, as well.—
Janis Mackey Frayer,
NBC news,
4 June 2026
Verb
-
And Vrabel, under withering criticism for his relationship with NFL insider Dianna Russini for going on two months now, gets a welcome change to the conversation.—
Armando Salguero,
FOXNews.com,
1 June 2026
-
Fortunately, the emotional spar fest between the queen of withering glares and snippy comments — award winner Allison Janney — and the onstage king of stammering self involvement — Andrew Rannells — clicks in director/writer Jim Rash dramedy debut.—
Randy Myers,
Mercury News,
28 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Wilting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wilting. Accessed 7 Jun. 2026.
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