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
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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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Recent Examples of wither
Its unwillingness or inability to act in the face of the offensive brings home, more powerfully than anything else, just how much this branch of government has withered away in recent decades.
—
Noah Feldman, Twin Cities, 24 Dec. 2025
Ahmed al-Jash’ami, a former farmer from Iraq’s central Babel province, recalls watching his father die heartbroken as dwindling water supplies caused their orchard to wither and turn barren.
—Mohammed Tawfeeq, CNN Money, 21 Dec. 2025
The ruling party played a secondary role compared to the presidency, withering away and not even meeting for years.
—Yonatan Morse, The Conversation, 19 Dec. 2025
These talking points, which have been embraced by Republicans and Democrats alike, call on nationalism to reboot an industry withered by decades of retrenchment.
—Colin Jones, New Yorker, 18 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for wither
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wither
Verb
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They’re made of the brand’s fast-drying fabric called Everlux, which wicks away moisture to prevent sweat marks and stains during even the most high-energy workouts.—
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Leave the mats out in the sun for several hours to dry.—
Verb
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The California Association of Realtors also predicts that, as economic uncertainty fades and rates begin to decline more steadily, the housing market should improve throughout 2026.—
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As human activity and food waste returned, those differences appeared to fade in later generations.—
Verb
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The Mets, meanwhile, seek front-line starting pitching after last year’s rotation struggled to provide length and wilted down the stretch.—
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Instead, wait until late winter or early spring, when the pink and white flowers have wilted.—
Verb
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Evergreen branches bent under the weight of snow are already weakened; sweeping down the length of the branch toward the ground adds to the stress and increases the potential for breakage.—
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These policies impose devastating costs on American citizens, weakening our economy, increasing the national debt, straining public budgets and tearing families apart.—
Verb
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The fragile skeleton of her ego threatened to snap under the pressure of the animal forces that pressed down on her consciousness, her narrative mind sagging and distended beneath pitiless and grandiose feeling.—
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Pre-festival enthusiasm sagged compared to the inaugural year.—
Verb
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The Kings went into the halftime break with a 58-46 lead and a 22-5 advantage in fastbreak points.—
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While strolling in New York City, Katie Holmes went for a casual vibe in baggy black jeans with a light jacket and a crossbody bag, while Jennifer Garner's pair had a touch of subtle elegance with gold-tone hardware.—
Verb
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If the settlement failed to cover the amount owed, some funders went after the women for the remainder.—
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Owner Mark Davis has failed for years to find answers, and this time around, Tom Brady appears to be taking control of the rebuild.—
Cite this Entry
“Wither.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wither. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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