1
as in to droop
to be limp from lack of water or vigor
the plants wilted after I forgot to water them for three whole days
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to fade
to lose bodily strength or vigor
she had wilted a bit after walking around the hot and humid city
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3
as in to dry
to lose liveliness, force, or freshness
after six solid hours of painting, his energy was starting to wilt
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of wilt
In the apartments of Toebbe’s Hyde Park, where the painter has lived for nearly two decades with her family, midcentury furnishings abound, plants sometimes wilt, and nearly all available surfaces are covered in patterns.
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Lori Waxman, Chicago Tribune, 2 Jan. 2026
The conventional wisdom that his résumé—a state assemblyman for five years, a democratic socialist, a vocal critic of Israel—represented a list of liabilities seemed to wilt in the presence of the man himself.
—Molly Fischer, New Yorker, 1 Jan. 2026
Stir in kale; let stand until kale is wilted, about 4 minutes.
—Holly Riordan, Better Homes & Gardens, 30 Dec. 2025
Former opponents rejoined the CPDM, and the opposition wilted away to an enclave in majority Francophone Cameroon’s English-speaking regions.
—Yonatan Morse, The Conversation, 19 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for wilt
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wilt
Verb
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Too thick of a mascara coat, and suddenly my gaze droops.—
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These curtains are typically made from lightweight, inexpensive fabrics that lack the heft needed to drape properly, causing them to sag or droop in the center.—
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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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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Ways to Personalize Your Home Personalizing your space isn't just about displaying items with your last name or hanging family photos.—
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Although the meeting went smoothly and led to concrete commitments, the bonhomie was strained by uncomfortable questions at a news conference about the issue hanging over the day’s diplomacy.—
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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Employment doldrums have affected even the state’s hallmark sectors, most obviously Southern California’s withering film and TV production industry and the Bay Area’s high technology concentration.—
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For much of those eight years, Powell endured withering public criticism from the president, who named him as chair.—
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.—
Cite this Entry
“Wilt.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wilt. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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