as in failing
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1
as in drying
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 fading
to lose bodily strength or vigor
if he's left on his own, he'll just wither and die
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Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of withering
Jason Ma, Fortune, 3 May 2026
Played to the ice-queen hilt by the divine Meryl Streep, Miranda’s withering glances and sarcastic putdowns continue to live on and get quoted, no matter the decade.
—Randy Myers, Mercury News, 29 Apr. 2026
Runway is going virulently viral for all the wrong reasons, and its editor, the legendary Miranda Priestly (Meryl Streep), is, for once, at a loss for a withering mot juste when her advertisers demand an explanation.
—Damon Wise, Deadline, 29 Apr. 2026
An increasing number of women also have been forced to grow out their roots given a lack of gasoline and public transportation, coupled with withering budgets, Ramírez said.
—ABC News, 23 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for withering
Verb
Vladimir Putin is losing the Russian people as the economy and his war machine go in reverse amid withering Ukrainian attacks.
—Jason Ma, Fortune, 3 May 2026
Played to the ice-queen hilt by the divine Meryl Streep, Miranda’s withering glances and sarcastic putdowns continue to live on and get quoted, no matter the decade.
—Randy Myers, Mercury News, 29 Apr. 2026
Runway is going virulently viral for all the wrong reasons, and its editor, the legendary Miranda Priestly (Meryl Streep), is, for once, at a loss for a withering mot juste when her advertisers demand an explanation.
—Damon Wise, Deadline, 29 Apr. 2026
An increasing number of women also have been forced to grow out their roots given a lack of gasoline and public transportation, coupled with withering budgets, Ramírez said.
—ABC News, 23 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for withering
Recent Examples of Synonyms for withering
Noun
-
More bailouts would paper over the failings of federal regulation.—
Marc Scribner,
Washington Post,
13 May 2026
-
Equally important is practicing self-care and self-compassion, which, Broder says, means treating yourself with kindness instead of judgment and recognizing that your patterns developed as a way to cope, not as a personal failing.—
Daryl Austin,
USA Today,
12 May 2026
Verb
-
Preheat the oven to 250°F, which is just hot enough to heat the ribs gently without drying them out.—
Lisa Cericola,
Southern Living,
17 May 2026
-
Health officials warn that cooking, boiling, freezing or drying wild mushrooms does not neutralize toxins.—
Anthony Thompson,
USA Today,
16 May 2026
Verb
-
By now, however, that view is fading.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
18 May 2026
-
Taj Mahal kept fading and ultimately finished 10th.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
17 May 2026
Noun
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The following month, the Veterans Administration filed a report stating that the Nautilus Veterans Hospital was in a severe state of deterioration, mostly because of the dampness from the sea air, which caused the concrete’s steel rods to rust and give way.—
Miami Herald Archives,
Miami Herald,
13 May 2026
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The switch in alliances has coincided with the rapid deterioration of the security situation in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger.—
Brady Knox,
The Washington Examiner,
10 May 2026
Verb
-
Our students are not wilting flowers.—
Paula Wethington,
CBS News,
4 May 2026
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To keep fresh herbs from wilting too quickly, trim the ends, then wrap them in a damp paper towel or cloth before storing.—
Olivia McIntosh,
Martha Stewart,
1 May 2026
Verb
-
That separation is now weakening.—
Ingmar Rentzhog,
Forbes.com,
17 May 2026
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In addition to these external influences, Dini emphasized that long-term domestic instability has left Somalia’s coastline vulnerable, weakening local institutions and lowering the risks for pirate networks.—
Nimi Princewill,
CNN Money,
15 May 2026
Noun
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However, the incidents have contributed to a worsening of the mood around Madrid and should also be considered notable for that reason.—
Guillermo Rai,
New York Times,
5 May 2026
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The South Bay has been able to absorb thousands of layoffs yet still avoid a worsening of the jobless rate in the region, Hancock noted.—
George Avalos,
Mercury News,
17 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The cushions will stay bouncy thanks to sinuous springs that prevent sagging over time.—
Christina Shepherd McGuire,
PEOPLE,
10 May 2026
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This is infused in extra-large toner pads for deep firming hydration to refine pores, smooth texture, and visibly lift sagging skin all in one gentle swipe.—
Rosa Jisoo Pyo,
Vogue,
8 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Withering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/withering. Accessed 21 May. 2026.
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