1
as in to die
to stop living
12 people perished in the plane crash
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to disintegrate
chiefly British
to go through decomposition
after being left out in the summer heat, the milk perished and had to be thrown out
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of perish
More than two dozen sloths perished in a warehouse around two minutes from the Sloth World Orlando location between December 2024 and February 2025, the FWC said, as Fox35 reported.
—
Jessica Mekles, FOXNews.com, 23 Apr. 2026
But many details about her father’s family, some of whom had perished in the Holocaust, were scant.
—Jackie Hajdenberg, Sun Sentinel, 21 Apr. 2026
Singh raised his second straight half-century off just 23 balls with eight fours and a six while Iyer brought up his fifty of 31 balls and smacked Thakur four two consecutive sixes before perishing when Dhir took a stunning catch at deep mid-wicket.
—ABC News, 16 Apr. 2026
Jaxon’s death comes after two children in the agency’s care perished.
—Julia Prodis Sulek, Mercury News, 14 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for perish
Jessica Mekles, FOXNews.com, 23 Apr. 2026
But many details about her father’s family, some of whom had perished in the Holocaust, were scant.
—Jackie Hajdenberg, Sun Sentinel, 21 Apr. 2026
Singh raised his second straight half-century off just 23 balls with eight fours and a six while Iyer brought up his fifty of 31 balls and smacked Thakur four two consecutive sixes before perishing when Dhir took a stunning catch at deep mid-wicket.
—ABC News, 16 Apr. 2026
Jaxon’s death comes after two children in the agency’s care perished.
—Julia Prodis Sulek, Mercury News, 14 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for perish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for perish
Verb
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And while this year ultimately produced notable wins for healthcare policy, business organizations were also frustrated by legislators on that front as well, pointing to a bill that would have allowed for association health plans that died in the Appropriations Committee.—
P.R. Lockhart,
Hartford Courant,
17 May 2026
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At least three people have died from the rare virus’s recent outbreak, marking a total of 11 cases as of May 13, according to the World Health Organization.—
Kate Perez,
Chicago Tribune,
16 May 2026
Verb
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Ron Harper, who manages OTD Ticket Defenders Legal Service, points out that pavement temperatures can exceed 150 degrees Fahrenheit at this time of year—that's hot enough to warp metal and disintegrate tires.—
Christopher Elliott,
Forbes.com,
16 May 2026
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The New York Knicks are disintegrating anyone in their path.—
Fred Katz,
New York Times,
15 May 2026
Verb
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Only two were earned, but they were all deserved after Rodón fell apart in the third frame.—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
17 May 2026
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Chelsea’s squad demographic falls somewhere in between but is probably closer to the former than the latter, and a football legend with his resume should not encounter the authority problems faced by owner BlueCo’s previous hires.—
Liam Twomey,
New York Times,
17 May 2026
Verb
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From a nearby dumpster there came the sweet and musty smell of decomposing seafood.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
14 May 2026
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Biodegradable waste consists of organic materials, such as food scraps, vegetable peels, paper, leaves, and agricultural residues, that can be decomposed naturally through microbial processes.—
Aman Kumar,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
14 May 2026
Verb
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One of the patients later succumbed to their injuries and was pronounced dead, officials said.—
Sam Gillette,
PEOPLE,
15 May 2026
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When Montiel had it, doctors could only provide supportive care, as her body either fought off the virus, or succumbed to it.—
Charles Trepany,
USA Today,
11 May 2026
Verb
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Still, others were not convinced this method was effective long term, as peonies can be prone to rotting roots.—
Kait Hanson,
Southern Living,
15 May 2026
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Young lettuce, kale, or broccoli plants should be planted so the root ball is level with the soil surface or just below; burying the stem or the crown too deeply can lead to rotting.—
Nadia Hassani,
The Spruce,
15 May 2026
Verb
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The band was born in Jamestown, a decaying manufacturing center in far Western New York.—
Dan Kois,
Pitchfork,
17 May 2026
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Working with the title designer Teddy Blanks, Harris found a textural font — one that embodied decaying paint and burns — to do the job.—
Lovia Gyarkye,
IndieWire,
16 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Perish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/perish. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
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