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
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Recent Examples of wilting
Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 20 Jan. 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
Rose Horowitch, The Atlantic, 30 Jan. 2026
Yellow stippling on plant leaves and sticky honeydew residue can be signs of pests, but pests can also cause leaf wilting and stunted growth.
—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 Jan. 2026
Avoid any heads with cracks, bruises, wilting leaves, or signs of mold.
—Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 20 Jan. 2026
My favorite finds include storage bins for yogurt cups, a butter dish, and an herb saver that prevents basil leaves from wilting.
—Sian Babish, PEOPLE, 14 Jan. 2026
Yellowing, wilting, or leggy growth often improves with simple light, water, or placement tweaks.
—Gemma Johnstone, The Spruce, 12 Jan. 2026
Avoid placing the plant in direct sunlight, as sudden exposure can cause stress and lead to wilting or sunburn.
—Sj McShane, Martha Stewart, 8 Jan. 2026
Handmade metal sculptures reproduced the park’s plants in all their wilting, late-summer glory.
—Javier Montes, Artforum, 1 Jan. 2026
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
Most of the time, the reason your orchid's leaves are wilting is because of a problem with the roots, says Justin Kondrat, lead horticulturist at the Smithsonian Orchid Collection.
—Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 Jan. 2026
Yet there the Packers were in Chicago, wilting under the pressure of one yet again.
—Matt Schneidman, New York Times, 11 Jan. 2026
Adrian Kempe and Corey Perry also scored, Darcy Kuemper made 24 saves, and the Kings were able to respond after wilting late in similar circumstances in a 5-3 loss to Tampa Bay on Thursday.
—CBS News, 4 Jan. 2026
Early signs that your plant is dying are wilting or falling leaves or stunted growth.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 14 Nov. 2025
But still, Spoelstra came away encouraged by what the Heat showed in the first 40 minutes of the game against a quality Magic team before wilting in the final eight minutes of the season-opening loss.
—Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 23 Oct. 2025
Into the mix are their best friends, lawyer Barry (Andy Samberg) and his wife Amy (Kate McKinnon), who mostly are observers of the wilting Roses but with just the right touch of sympathy and advice.
—Pete Hammond, Deadline, 25 Aug. 2025
Adjective
Not Enough Water Limp, wilting leaves can also indicate your orchid is getting too little water.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 20 Jan. 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
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
Yellow stippling on plant leaves and sticky honeydew residue can be signs of pests, but pests can also cause leaf wilting and stunted growth.
—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 Jan. 2026
Avoid any heads with cracks, bruises, wilting leaves, or signs of mold.
—Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 20 Jan. 2026
My favorite finds include storage bins for yogurt cups, a butter dish, and an herb saver that prevents basil leaves from wilting.
—Sian Babish, PEOPLE, 14 Jan. 2026
Yellowing, wilting, or leggy growth often improves with simple light, water, or placement tweaks.
—Gemma Johnstone, The Spruce, 12 Jan. 2026
Avoid placing the plant in direct sunlight, as sudden exposure can cause stress and lead to wilting or sunburn.
—Sj McShane, Martha Stewart, 8 Jan. 2026
Handmade metal sculptures reproduced the park’s plants in all their wilting, late-summer glory.
—Javier Montes, Artforum, 1 Jan. 2026
Verb
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
Most of the time, the reason your orchid's leaves are wilting is because of a problem with the roots, says Justin Kondrat, lead horticulturist at the Smithsonian Orchid Collection.
—Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 Jan. 2026
Yet there the Packers were in Chicago, wilting under the pressure of one yet again.
—Matt Schneidman, New York Times, 11 Jan. 2026
Adrian Kempe and Corey Perry also scored, Darcy Kuemper made 24 saves, and the Kings were able to respond after wilting late in similar circumstances in a 5-3 loss to Tampa Bay on Thursday.
—CBS News, 4 Jan. 2026
Early signs that your plant is dying are wilting or falling leaves or stunted growth.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 14 Nov. 2025
But still, Spoelstra came away encouraged by what the Heat showed in the first 40 minutes of the game against a quality Magic team before wilting in the final eight minutes of the season-opening loss.
—Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 23 Oct. 2025
Into the mix are their best friends, lawyer Barry (Andy Samberg) and his wife Amy (Kate McKinnon), who mostly are observers of the wilting Roses but with just the right touch of sympathy and advice.
—Pete Hammond, Deadline, 25 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wilting
Noun
-
The report claimed these changes were made to minimize the city and fire department’s failings.—
Barnini Chakraborty,
The Washington Examiner,
5 Feb. 2026
-
Foster acknowledged state efforts to hold the district accountable have at times been justified, including in 2023 when TEA investigated chronic failings in the district’s special education department.—
Keri Heath,
Austin American Statesman,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
This broadleaf evergreen is adored for its long, drooping flower clusters.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
8 Feb. 2026
-
Otherwise, the plant may experience temperature shock and exhibit symptoms like curling leaves, drooping leaves, yellowing leaves, and more.—
Cori Sears,
The Spruce,
7 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
In the crushing depths of the ocean or the vacuum of deep space, one of the key threats to technology is the fading battery.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
9 Feb. 2026
-
Amid the recent furore, that trust and respect seem to be all but fading.—
Billy Stockwell,
CNN Money,
7 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
This quick-drying pick is offered in three colors and is a great place to store wet sponges and scrubbers, as well as soap dispensers.—
Jamie Weissman,
Better Homes & Gardens,
10 Feb. 2026
-
Keep separate towels for drying hands and wiping down the counter.—
Ashley Chalmers,
The Spruce,
10 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Most officials are expecting slowing hiring coupled with a low level of layoffs that, rather than suggesting a material weakening, point more to stabilization.—
Jeff Cox,
CNBC,
10 Feb. 2026
-
But a weakening of the job market, on the other hand, could push it to resume cuts more quickly.—
Stan Choe,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Martinko recommends hanging a paper calendar on your wall, switching to a paper planner, and writing out grocery lists and meal plans in lieu of turning to your digital device.—
Madeline Buiano,
Martha Stewart,
8 Feb. 2026
-
But the bigger concern hanging over the industry is the rise of prediction markets like Kalshi, which have come out of nowhere over the last year to offer a new way to bet on sports, bypassing the state-level gambling regulations that have restricted the spread of older gambling apps.—
Peyton Forte,
Fortune,
8 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Body oils can help tighten the look of mildly sagging or crepey skin by improving hydration and overall skin health.—
Christa Joanna Lee,
Allure,
5 Feb. 2026
-
Also, to watch for sagging ridgelines, drooping ceilings, water leaks on interior walls and ceilings, jammed doors, cracked interior walls near the center of the home and creaking sounds, according to State Farm.—
Sean Krofssik,
Hartford Courant,
4 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Prior to the oil blockade, the Caribbean island suffered from a withering economy due to its dwindling tourism business since the Covid-19 pandemic.—
Philip Wang,
Time,
9 Feb. 2026
-
Film buffs were surprised by Tarantino’s taste (the Kill Bill director gave the top spot to Black Hawk Down, second place going to Toy Story 3), but Tarantino’s withering comments about Paul Dano overshadowed any debate about the list.—
Dani Di Placido,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Wilting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wilting. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
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