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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
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
His ego would wither and blow away like so many leaves in autumn.
—Bill Goodykoontz, AZCentral.com, 20 Jan. 2026
Last year’s version, which withered on the Senate’s calendar, also included religious organizations.
—Seth Klamann, Denver Post, 15 Jan. 2026
Investor confidence has withered in the wake of a corruption scandal, as probes discovered that $2 billion in government funding for flood management projects had disappeared.
—Angelica Ang, Fortune, 14 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for wither
Dani Di Placido, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
His ego would wither and blow away like so many leaves in autumn.
—Bill Goodykoontz, AZCentral.com, 20 Jan. 2026
Last year’s version, which withered on the Senate’s calendar, also included religious organizations.
—Seth Klamann, Denver Post, 15 Jan. 2026
Investor confidence has withered in the wake of a corruption scandal, as probes discovered that $2 billion in government funding for flood management projects had disappeared.
—Angelica Ang, Fortune, 14 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for wither
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wither
Verb
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Silgranit sinks can be cleaned with a mixture of dish soap and vinegar, which will need to sit for at least an hour if there are any hard water deposits before being rinsed and dried.—
Lauren Wicks,
Southern Living,
10 Feb. 2026
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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
Verb
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When Dreher wrote The Benedict Option, during the Obama presidency, his primary concern was how to keep faith alive at a time when Christianity seemed to be fading away.—
Robert F. Worth,
The Atlantic,
13 Feb. 2026
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Relationship endings are possible under this influence — don’t insist on forcing a connection that’s trying to fade.—
Tarot.com,
Chicago Tribune,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Black-eyed Susan blooms at the end of hot, humid summers when other plants are wilting.—
Arricca Elin SanSone,
Southern Living,
14 Feb. 2026
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The flowers depressed her, especially those already wilting.—
Allegra Goodman,
Literary Hub,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Investors don’t want to inadvertently cheer on weakening job growth that could negatively impact consumer spending and economic growth, hurting stock prices.—
John Towfighi,
CNN Money,
11 Feb. 2026
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The National Weather Service says the ridge keeping California dry since last month is beginning to weaken.—
Monica Garske,
USA Today,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
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In fact, one shopper even credits it with improving sagging corners around the mouth and forehead creasing.—
Melanie Fincher,
Southern Living,
10 Feb. 2026
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Unlike your average and typical pillow that sags over time, this one has hotel-like appeal because of its precise border for a structured, refined look.—
Nashia Baker,
Architectural Digest,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Substitutions will always be scrutinised by supporters when results go badly.—
Andy Naylor,
New York Times,
9 Feb. 2026
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Michael Hicks weighs in on how a copy‑paste bill has lawmakers going after degrees Indiana doesn’t even offer in his latest op-ed.—
Kurtcia Collazo,
IndyStar,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
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That shutdown ended with a promise to vote on extending the subsidies, which failed.—
Riley Beggin,
Arkansas Online,
14 Feb. 2026
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Previous versions of the bill failed to gain traction in both chambers last year.—
Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy,
USA Today,
14 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Wither.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wither. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
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