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
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Recent Examples of withering
Wilson Chapman,
IndieWire,
9 June 2026
Rick Dolliver, a lobsterman who also runs a popular bar in the town, gave a withering verdict on the Democratic hopeful.
—
David Millward,
The Washington Examiner,
7 June 2026
The Chanel suits, dark glasses, nasal voice and withering judgments became part of the national image.
—
ABC News,
6 June 2026
Months of withering brutal weather gave way to soccer abandon on the turf, as two of Ottawa’s best junior teams clashed in the sunlight.
—
Paula Newton,
CNN Money,
6 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for withering
Verb
Brooke Lynn Heights can play the withering queen bee role she’s given in her sleep, while Marcia Marcia Marcia and Symoné prove amusingly bitchy lackies.
—
Wilson Chapman,
IndieWire,
9 June 2026
Rick Dolliver, a lobsterman who also runs a popular bar in the town, gave a withering verdict on the Democratic hopeful.
—
David Millward,
The Washington Examiner,
7 June 2026
The Chanel suits, dark glasses, nasal voice and withering judgments became part of the national image.
—
ABC News,
6 June 2026
Months of withering brutal weather gave way to soccer abandon on the turf, as two of Ottawa’s best junior teams clashed in the sunlight.
—
Paula Newton,
CNN Money,
6 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for withering
Recent Examples of Synonyms for withering
Noun
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Yet, for those failings, the Selecao found a way to come through on both occasions – mainly due to the in-game changes Ancelotti made.
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Such failings merits more analysis but there is surely some truth in left back Ali Abdi’s comments after a 4-0 filleting by Japan in their second game.
Verb
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Ensure the stain is fully gone before drying—once heat sets it in, removal becomes significantly harder.
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Keep a handful near your washing machine or drying rack for blouses, dresses, workout wear, or delicate pieces that should skip the dryer.
Verb
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More than a week after the disaster, search-and-rescue operations remain active, though hopes of finding additional survivors are rapidly fading.
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Thousands remain missing more than a week after the twin earthquakes struck Venezuela and hope for finding survivors is fading into and effort to recover remains.
Noun
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But nothing competes with the painful deterioration of her sight after contracting scarlet fever.
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In addition, city officials can now require owners to install security measures to help protect vacant buildings from further deterioration or trespassing.
Verb
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Underwatering Gardening expert Jen McDonald says that underwatering is the most common reason for petunias wilting.
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While wearing the glasses, a wearer can ask questions about topics in one's surroundings, like asking for more information about a landmark on vacation, identifying care instructions for a wilting plant or discovering a full recipe for a dish at a favorite restaurant.
Verb
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Goldman Sachs predicts a sustained dollar weakening in 2026, driven by fiscal concerns and shifting global asset demand, marking a structural shift rather than a cyclical dip.
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Ukrainian officials describe the strikes as a campaign to pressure Moscow to end the war by undermining its military logistics and supply lines and weakening its ability to mount assaults along the front.
Noun
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While alcohol may transiently improve mood and ease social anxiety, long-term alcohol use can lead to a worsening of mood, cognition and sleep, which can further compound use.
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Limited evidence suggests that people with genetic deficiencies of CoQ10 who abruptly stop taking it can experience a worsening of kidney function.
Verb
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An InStyle writer recommends the RoC Derm Correxion Retinol Firming Serum Stick for her grandma’s sagging turkey neck.
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Meanwhile, sagging electrical lines threatened to bring some rail services to a standstill.
Cite this Entry
“Withering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/withering. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
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