as in shriveled
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1
as in dried
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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2
as in faded
to lose bodily strength or vigor
if he's left on his own, he'll just wither and die
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Recent Examples of withered
Celina Tebor, CNN Money, 19 Mar. 2026
Dead fruit rotted on withered evergreens, remnants of a record-cold February.
—Literary Hub, 23 Feb. 2026
Floridians can see it in the withered tones of roadside vegetation and hear it in the dry crunch of their once-green lawns.
—Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 22 Feb. 2026
Among other moves this offseason, the Kings traded Jonas Valančiūnas for the withered remains of Dario Šarić and passed on a golden opportunity to lock in 3-and-D wing Keon Ellis at a value rate by declining his team option and re-signing him as a restricted free agent.
—John Hollinger, New York Times, 10 Oct. 2025
During Marie’s private lesson with Cipher, Cate and Jordan infiltrate the dean’s house, finding a withered old man in a hyperbaric chamber.
—Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 24 Sep. 2025
Given America’s withered afloat support capabilities, shepherding fleets of small craft around Cape Horn is an almost insurmountable logistical challenge.
—Craig Hooper, Forbes.com, 14 Aug. 2025
Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Mar. 2026
But as the airline increasingly relied on land planes, its ties to Dinner Key withered.
—Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 26 Mar. 2026
Now most of the great passenger railroads have withered and died, and they have been replaced by Amtrak, which has mammoth troubles of its own.
—Rafaela Jinich, The Atlantic, 26 Mar. 2026
The Navy effectively stopped building ships at the close of the cold war and the sophisticated industrial base supporting ship construction – both the skilled workforce and the supply chain – withered for more than a generation.
—Edmund H. Mahony, Hartford Courant, 23 Mar. 2026
The Wolverines withered in being outscored 39-17 over the final 12 minutes.
—ABC News, 23 Mar. 2026
In elsewhere about his relationships with his parents, his girlfriend, and love interests that withered to nothing.
—Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 13 Mar. 2026
Then, in 2022, another Measure A update withered at the polls, with 56% of the votes against it; that measure, which was also citizen-led, needed a simple majority to pass.
—Ariane Lange, Sacbee.com, 11 Mar. 2026
The former Florida State Seminole seeking his first win since 2021 withered while facing Bhatia’s birdie barrage and his eagle at the par-5 16th hole.
—Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 Mar. 2026
Adjective
Soft winds threaten to blow the withered flowers away.
—Celina Tebor, CNN Money, 19 Mar. 2026
Dead fruit rotted on withered evergreens, remnants of a record-cold February.
—Literary Hub, 23 Feb. 2026
Floridians can see it in the withered tones of roadside vegetation and hear it in the dry crunch of their once-green lawns.
—Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 22 Feb. 2026
Among other moves this offseason, the Kings traded Jonas Valančiūnas for the withered remains of Dario Šarić and passed on a golden opportunity to lock in 3-and-D wing Keon Ellis at a value rate by declining his team option and re-signing him as a restricted free agent.
—John Hollinger, New York Times, 10 Oct. 2025
During Marie’s private lesson with Cipher, Cate and Jordan infiltrate the dean’s house, finding a withered old man in a hyperbaric chamber.
—Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 24 Sep. 2025
Given America’s withered afloat support capabilities, shepherding fleets of small craft around Cape Horn is an almost insurmountable logistical challenge.
—Craig Hooper, Forbes.com, 14 Aug. 2025
Verb
Then the strength of their team withered and left them still seeking their first victory under new manager Craig Stammen.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Mar. 2026
But as the airline increasingly relied on land planes, its ties to Dinner Key withered.
—Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 26 Mar. 2026
Now most of the great passenger railroads have withered and died, and they have been replaced by Amtrak, which has mammoth troubles of its own.
—Rafaela Jinich, The Atlantic, 26 Mar. 2026
The Navy effectively stopped building ships at the close of the cold war and the sophisticated industrial base supporting ship construction – both the skilled workforce and the supply chain – withered for more than a generation.
—Edmund H. Mahony, Hartford Courant, 23 Mar. 2026
The Wolverines withered in being outscored 39-17 over the final 12 minutes.
—ABC News, 23 Mar. 2026
In elsewhere about his relationships with his parents, his girlfriend, and love interests that withered to nothing.
—Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 13 Mar. 2026
Then, in 2022, another Measure A update withered at the polls, with 56% of the votes against it; that measure, which was also citizen-led, needed a simple majority to pass.
—Ariane Lange, Sacbee.com, 11 Mar. 2026
The former Florida State Seminole seeking his first win since 2021 withered while facing Bhatia’s birdie barrage and his eagle at the par-5 16th hole.
—Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for withered
Adjective
-
Properly watering succulents keeps them healthy and prevents problems like root rot and shriveled leaves.—
Madeline Buiano,
Martha Stewart,
16 Feb. 2026
-
To avoid finding shriveled potatoes in your pantry, start with fresh, firm potatoes.—
Lauren David,
Southern Living,
15 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Residue or dried food was found on 15% of all dishes.—
Eleanor Nash,
Kansas City Star,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Then take out the shelves and drawers to be washed and dried like dishes.—
Lori Keong,
Architectural Digest,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The idea of a quick military solution has faded, but no serious political alternative has taken its place.—
Kazem Kazerounian,
Hartford Courant,
1 Apr. 2026
-
And the beetles faded from her days without her noticing.—
María Ospina,
The Dial,
31 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
In front of the butcher’s near where the painter lives, a vendor, wizened and bent, sets up shop.—
Amir Ahmadi Arian,
The Dial,
15 Jan. 2026
-
But more alarming than the ways in which this physical space could turn against us was the simple metaphor of a wizened little man pulling a boat down a river in the dark.—
Ann Patchett,
New Yorker,
29 Sep. 2025
Verb
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But, Scanlon noted, the budget was weakened by federal policy changes.—
Keith M. Phaneuf,
Hartford Courant,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Shipping and insurance costs, inflation and uncertainty are on the rise, and with currencies in developing countries now weakened, imports such as fuel and food are even more expensive for residents.—
Kevin Liptak,
CNN Money,
1 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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As Alpha waits for the results of blood tests, she is startled by the sudden appearance of a gaunt, jittery stranger in their apartment.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Mar. 2026
-
Lie’s Evans is gaunt and distant, a shy man hidden behind a veil of cigarette smoke, unable to process — or even express — his grief.—
Scott Roxborough,
HollywoodReporter,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Heaps of leathery brown prickly pear pads sagged into the dirt and ash.—
Jaclyn Cosgrove,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Mar. 2026
-
More than a half dozen homes were deemed unsafe as nearby roads and sidewalks sagged.—
Nick Caloway,
CBS News,
7 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
His skeletal remains were found on a beach in Washington state.—
Emily Mae Czachor,
CBS News,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Then, in May 2024, a fisherman found skeletal remains in a frozen grave near a river at the Deer Creek Campground in Bailey.—
Sam Tabachnik,
Denver Post,
27 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Withered.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/withered. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
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