: a condition in woody plants in which peripheral parts are killed (as by parasites)
Examples of dieback in a Sentence
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The bacteria responsible live in soils and can infect a wide variety of plant species, though what kills the plant or causes dieback is often a secondary infection where another pathogen takes advantage of the weakened tissue as a point of entry.
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Miri Talabac, Baltimore Sun, 24 Mar. 2026
Pampas grass has messy seasonal dieback and leaves bare patches in the winter.
—Cori Sears, The Spruce, 10 Mar. 2026
Wilting, delayed leaf-out, or dieback can all indicate water issues.
—Rae Ford, Martha Stewart, 10 Mar. 2026
This weakens the plant and can cause dieback.
—Steve Bender, Southern Living, 10 Mar. 2026
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Miri Talabac, Baltimore Sun, 24 Mar. 2026
Pampas grass has messy seasonal dieback and leaves bare patches in the winter.
—Cori Sears, The Spruce, 10 Mar. 2026
Wilting, delayed leaf-out, or dieback can all indicate water issues.
—Rae Ford, Martha Stewart, 10 Mar. 2026
This weakens the plant and can cause dieback.
—Steve Bender, Southern Living, 10 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for dieback
Cite this Entry
“Dieback.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dieback. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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