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
Because funding for laboratories like Corey’s often leads to new treatments, its reduction can wither not just university research but the entire health economy.
—
Nathan Heller, The New Yorker, 3 Mar. 2025
English clubs’ player recruitment became multinational and even as academy intake numbers rose, gradually a traditional source of teenage talent — Ireland — withered.
—Michael Walker, The Athletic, 20 Mar. 2025
Paul traffics in attention; would wither and disappear without it.
—Greg Cote, Miami Herald, 16 Mar. 2025
Another trajectory remains possible, one in which the EU and NATO adapt rather than wither.
—Monica Duffy Toft, Foreign Affairs, 13 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for wither
Nathan Heller, The New Yorker, 3 Mar. 2025
English clubs’ player recruitment became multinational and even as academy intake numbers rose, gradually a traditional source of teenage talent — Ireland — withered.
—Michael Walker, The Athletic, 20 Mar. 2025
Paul traffics in attention; would wither and disappear without it.
—Greg Cote, Miami Herald, 16 Mar. 2025
Another trajectory remains possible, one in which the EU and NATO adapt rather than wither.
—Monica Duffy Toft, Foreign Affairs, 13 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for wither
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wither
Verb
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First, clean and dry the area, then cut the tape to cover the scar with a small margin around the perimeter.—
India Espy-Jones,
Essence,
9 Apr. 2025
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Use a fragrance-free wash with a creamy formula, which tends to be less drying—think: a thicker, lotion-like consistency versus a thin and sudsy one.—
Alisa Hrustic,
SELF,
9 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
In the world of fashion, trends emerge and fade quickly, particularly among teenagers.—
Renan Botelho,
Footwear News,
9 Apr. 2025
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Curiosity fades fast when people don’t feel safe to use it.—
Dr. Diane Hamilton,
Forbes.com,
9 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Add the basil leaves to the pot, remove from heat, and cover so that the basil leaves just begin to wilt. Check and adjust the seasoning as needed.—
Vicky Hallett,
NPR,
1 Apr. 2025
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Wash and dry greens, discarding any yellowed or wilted leaves; set aside.—
Catherine Jessee,
Southern Living,
27 Mar. 2025
Verb
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But that progress stalled out around the turn of the year, which weakened the case for further rate cuts and ultimately prompted the Fed to stand pat in January.—
Bryan Mena,
CNN Money,
4 Apr. 2025
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More broadly, consumer sentiment has declined and retail sales growth has weakened, reflecting the uncertainty of customers over where the economy is headed.—
Harry Holzer,
Forbes.com,
4 Apr. 2025
Verb
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The sagging sales could be due to several factors, including the backlash, but also Tesla’s brand changes in the past few years.—
Miranda Nazzaro,
The Hill,
2 Apr. 2025
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His sagging defense at the top of the key, while chasing to the rim for rebounds undermines switching and spacing.—
Troy Renck,
The Denver Post,
22 Mar. 2025
Verb
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For over five decades, owner Bill Huth kept the track going.—
Erik Shilling,
Robb Report,
10 Apr. 2025
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The couple went public with their relationship in June of 2016.—
Jessica Bennett,
VIBE.com,
10 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Most failed to hit their targets and crashed into the ocean.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
11 Apr. 2025
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Senate Bill 376 by Sen. Alan Clark, R-Lonsdale, failed to clear the House State Agencies and Governmental Affairs Committee in a voice vote with audible dissent.—
Josh Snyder,
Arkansas Online,
10 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Wither.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wither. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.
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