1
as in to dry
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

2

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of wither Prevent a cold snap from withering your garden by knowing your area’s last frost date and watching the weather. Charlotte Germane, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 Mar. 2025 That shift in strategy came as Vice President JD Vance delivered a withering speech in Germany accusing Europe of turning a blind eye to democratic institutions and the tenets of free speech. Matt Robison, Newsweek, 24 Feb. 2025 One former influential government official, who requested anonymity because of administration wrath, gave me a withering estimation of DOGE’s prospects. Andrew Cockburn, Harper's Magazine, 19 Feb. 2025 Should Washington’s external intelligence relationships wither, the United States’ national security would be compromised. David V. Gioe, Foreign Affairs, 13 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for wither
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wither
Verb
  • Laundry balls, also known as dryer balls, offer a chemical-free solution for drying your clothes.
    BestReviews, The Mercury News, 18 Mar. 2025
  • The Popcorn button burned our tester bags, but the Dinner Plate button reheated a plate of pasta without drying it out.
    Meg St-Esprit, Bon Appétit, 18 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • The possible explanatory layers overwhelm, and so there’s an honesty to how the series opts to focus on the devastation instead, fading out on the image of the Miller family torn apart and Eddie breaking down on Jamie’s bed.
    Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 19 Mar. 2025
  • Now, Trump's personal and fading legal troubles—combined with his brash policies concerning issues like immigration, executive power, and corporate regulations—are once again driving people to law school.
    Dan Perry, Newsweek, 18 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • And despite the intensity of the crowd, the pressure of the moment that would cause even a good college team to wilt, both teams took and made their open shots, especially threes, with conviction all night.
    Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 17 Mar. 2025
  • If any leaves look wilted or slimy, choose a different bag.
    Alyssa Sybertz, Southern Living, 14 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • His health weakened by overwork and physical ailments, McCombs spent much of the last months of his life under medical care.
    arkansasonline.com, arkansasonline.com, 22 Mar. 2025
  • The doctor added that recovery would best continue away from the hospital, where exposure to viruses risks weakening the Holy Father's condition.
    Danielle Wallace, Fox News, 22 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • For example, sagging — most associated with poorly supportive bras — is not an ailment, but rather a natural aging phenomenon.
    Megan Feringa, New York Times, 27 Mar. 2025
  • The thing feels darn near bulletproof, and the cushions never sag or get lumpy.
    Will Porter, Architectural Digest, 21 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Humans generate memories during their very first months of life, but where do those memories go?
    Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 21 Mar. 2025
  • Ryan Foscolo went 3-for-4 with 2 runs and an RBI for Hagerty (14-2), while Stephen Chucka had a triple, double and RBI and Brandon Levy and Nathaniel Rhodes each added doubles and an RBI.
    Steve Gorches, Orlando Sentinel, 21 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Apple is required to make these changes, and failing to do so could lead to fines.
    Ars Technica, Ars Technica, 19 Mar. 2025
  • The country singer previously featured in December 2020, two months after he was dropped from an episode after failing to take Covid precautions on a night out.
    Peter White, Deadline, 19 Mar. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Wither.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wither. Accessed 31 Mar. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on wither

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!