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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to fade
to lose bodily strength or vigor
if he's left on his own, he'll just wither and die
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of wither
At an April 16 House hearing, Michael Kozak, a senior official in the State Department's Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs, fielded withering questions from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle, underscoring the complexity of the issue.
—
Rick Jervis, USA Today, 18 Apr. 2026
Catherine is all defensive spikes, while Robert, both dead and alive, can be withering in his judgment.
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 17 Apr. 2026
Emond, as Suzanna’s hypercritical mother, puts an Olympic-level spin on her withering observations.
—Emily Nussbaum, New Yorker, 16 Apr. 2026
Tomatoes grow, then wither Guelleh can bear witness to the hope - and the letdown.
—Julie Bourdin, NPR, 11 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for wither
Rick Jervis, USA Today, 18 Apr. 2026
Catherine is all defensive spikes, while Robert, both dead and alive, can be withering in his judgment.
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 17 Apr. 2026
Emond, as Suzanna’s hypercritical mother, puts an Olympic-level spin on her withering observations.
—Emily Nussbaum, New Yorker, 16 Apr. 2026
Tomatoes grow, then wither Guelleh can bear witness to the hope - and the letdown.
—Julie Bourdin, NPR, 11 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for wither
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wither
Verb
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There are also included cushions that won’t fade in the sun and dry quickly after storms.—
Shea Simmons,
Southern Living,
28 Apr. 2026
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Think 360-degree stretch, lightweight breathable fibers that dry almost as fast as athletic shorts, and an antimicrobial treatment that keeps them smelling and feeling fresh in between washes.—
Katie Jackson,
Travel + Leisure,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Between items that are dated and faded, here are a handful of outdoor decor pieces that designers say are always eyesores.—
Tessa Cooper,
The Spruce,
1 May 2026
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Public conversation centers on politics, blame, and strategy, while children fade into the background.—
Letters to the Editor,
Hartford Courant,
1 May 2026
Verb
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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
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The Magic didn’t wilt, though, and took hold of the game.—
Jason Beede,
The Orlando Sentinel,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The deeper the rifts between the United States and Europe over Iran, the greater the chances of weakening the NATO alliance.—
Sudarsan Raghavan,
New Yorker,
28 Apr. 2026
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During his appearances on Capitol Hill this month, Secretary Kennendy was grilled about the administration's defense of the pesticide industry and weakening of protections against mercury pollution, another issue that Kennedy had worked on as an advocate.—
Will Stone,
NPR,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
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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
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The front will sag south, and warm air from the Gulf of Mexico will ride over cooler air near the ground, helping rain stick around longer.—
Newsroom Meteorologist,
Houston Chronicle,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Instead, the 2026 draft saw a running back go third, a middle linebacker go seventh, and nine offensive linemen gone by the end of the first round.—
Zak Keefer,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
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There’s a lot that goes (on) behind the scene as a manager.—
Ronald Blum,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The carrier failed to secure a financial lifeline to continue operating, ending the discount air travel pioneer’s time in the sky, costing some 17,000 jobs and thousands of cheap flights in the market.—
Leslie Josephs,
CNBC,
2 May 2026
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The Kings have failed to advance beyond the first round in seven consecutive postseasons since winning the Stanley Cup in 2014, including six first-round exits since team president Luc Robitaille took ultimate charge of hockey operations in 2017.—
Greg Beacham,
Los Angeles Times,
2 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Wither.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wither. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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