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
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 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
Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 21 Apr. 2026
April in Central Florida is commonly one of the drier months of the year before summer rains, showing itself instead with brown lawns, wilting bushes, burning forests and smoky skies.
—Martin E. Comas, The Orlando Sentinel, 7 Apr. 2026
Look out for premature dropping of leaves along the stem, brown leaf tips, and wilting, as these can all be signs of both low humidity and lack of soil moisture.
—Derek Carwood, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Mar. 2026
These two are the sole remaining bright spot on this quickly wilting season.
—Tom Smyth, Vulture, 20 Feb. 2026
Some professors are treating wilting attention spans as a problem to be solved, not a reality to accept.
—Rose Horowitch, The Atlantic, 30 Jan. 2026
Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 27 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
Rotten flowers sit wilting in a vase, the fireplace is lit, and clothes are strewn around.
—Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 18 Feb. 2026
And Margot Robbie gives the character a sharpness, an agency that’s a relief from the wilting Catherines of yore — which actually makes her ultimate gruesome fate feel that much more tragic.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 16 Feb. 2026
The flowers depressed her, especially those already wilting.
—Allegra Goodman, Literary Hub, 11 Feb. 2026
Houseplants that are already wilting, suffering from root rot, or infested with pests shouldn't be watered with rice water, notes Harryson.
—Lauren David, Martha Stewart, 10 Feb. 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
Plant Diseases Soilborne fungal diseases can attack roots, causing sudden, permanent wilting.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 21 Apr. 2026
April in Central Florida is commonly one of the drier months of the year before summer rains, showing itself instead with brown lawns, wilting bushes, burning forests and smoky skies.
—Martin E. Comas, The Orlando Sentinel, 7 Apr. 2026
Look out for premature dropping of leaves along the stem, brown leaf tips, and wilting, as these can all be signs of both low humidity and lack of soil moisture.
—Derek Carwood, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Mar. 2026
These two are the sole remaining bright spot on this quickly wilting season.
—Tom Smyth, Vulture, 20 Feb. 2026
Some professors are treating wilting attention spans as a problem to be solved, not a reality to accept.
—Rose Horowitch, The Atlantic, 30 Jan. 2026
Verb
Plant violas in dappled light or afternoon shade to keep them from wilting.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 27 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
Rotten flowers sit wilting in a vase, the fireplace is lit, and clothes are strewn around.
—Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 18 Feb. 2026
And Margot Robbie gives the character a sharpness, an agency that’s a relief from the wilting Catherines of yore — which actually makes her ultimate gruesome fate feel that much more tragic.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 16 Feb. 2026
The flowers depressed her, especially those already wilting.
—Allegra Goodman, Literary Hub, 11 Feb. 2026
Houseplants that are already wilting, suffering from root rot, or infested with pests shouldn't be watered with rice water, notes Harryson.
—Lauren David, Martha Stewart, 10 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wilting
Noun
-
Dombrowski, like Breslow, is more responsible than his manager for the failings of his club, which ended its 10-game losing streak on Saturday night but still is worse off than the Red Sox at 9-18.—
Ken Rosenthal,
New York Times,
26 Apr. 2026
-
Now it had been relegated again to a leftist cause, a symbol of anti-imperial resistance for some and the face of communism’s failings for others.—
Kate Linthicum,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Renowned for its extended bloom period, this lovely flower boasts daisy-like blossoms with prominent orange-brown centers and drooping lavender-purple petals.—
SJ McShane,
Martha Stewart,
16 Apr. 2026
-
Wilting or drooping leaves may be obvious but also pay attention to the color.—
Lauren David,
Southern Living,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Meanwhile, commercial-only business districts are fading.—
Caitlin McGlade,
Charlotte Observer,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Dust and pollen are quicker to reveal themselves, and wear becomes apparent faster as dark colors are more prone to fading.—
Marisa Suzanne Martin,
The Spruce,
26 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
This interactive project looks at the impact of warmer, shorter winters on regions all over the country, from less ice fishing in Minnesota and fewer ski days in Colorado to drying reservoirs in the Southwest and more ticks and mosquitoes in the Northeast.—
Phaedra Trethan,
USA Today,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Finding the right waterproof sandal is key, where quick-drying materials, durability, and customized comfort reign supreme.—
Lara Kramer,
Condé Nast Traveler,
27 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
It is anticipated that supervisors will attempt to pull the wool over the eyes of voters, by pretending this measure is a new implementation of term limits instead of a weakening of term limits.—
John Franklin,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
24 Apr. 2026
-
The weakening is mainly attributed to climate change, according to Elipot, speaking in a podcast interview with USA TODAY.—
Doyle Rice,
USA Today,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Purchasing a new hanging plant shelf is a great way to combat this.—
Tessa Cooper,
The Spruce,
25 Apr. 2026
-
The Iran war has left uncertainty hanging over global markets for the past two months, but many market participants remain optimistic about where equities are headed, even in spite of record valuations.—
Chloe Taylor,
CNBC,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The front glass had been blown out, a support beam knocked askew and ceiling panels sagging inside.—
Tammy Ljungblad,
Kansas City Star,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Johnson became the club’s sixth man midway through the 2023-24 campaign when then-coach Gregg Popovich moved him to the bench hoping the the high-energy 29th overall pick of the 2019 draft would energize a sagging second unit.—
Tom Orsborn,
San Antonio Express-News,
22 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Runway is going virulently viral for all the wrong reasons, and its editor, the legendary Miranda Priestly (Meryl Streep), is, for once, at a loss for a withering mot juste when her advertisers demand an explanation.—
Damon Wise,
Deadline,
29 Apr. 2026
-
An increasing number of women also have been forced to grow out their roots given a lack of gasoline and public transportation, coupled with withering budgets, Ramírez said.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
23 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Wilting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wilting. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
