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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2

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of wither In general, brain rot can also refer to surrealist content created to entertain people whose attention spans have presumably withered away thanks to time spent scrolling, or to a state of general onlineness that has rewired one’s mind. Kaitlyn Tiffany, The Atlantic, 13 Jan. 2025 Huge stands of the Phragmites reeds, which cover more than 28,000 hectares of the Bird’s Foot, began to wither and die. Bywarren Cornwall, science.org, 9 Jan. 2025 Her letter, which was followed up by a social media post, was withering in making the case that Kennedy was unfit for the role and personal in detailing his struggles with drug addiction. Ted Johnson, Deadline, 28 Jan. 2025 Marriages wither if no effort is made to nurture them. Jeanne Phillips, The Mercury News, 26 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for wither
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wither
Verb
  • Unlike many other correctors, which can be drying, this one is especially hydrating, thanks to a blend of botanicals.
    Iman Balagam, Vogue, 24 Feb. 2025
  • Once harvested, these humble beans are dried, roasted, and processed into something beloved worldwide.
    Ayurella Horn-Muller, WIRED, 22 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • The resin material looks like solid wood but won’t fade in the sun or require repainting.
    Clint Davis, People.com, 23 Feb. 2025
  • The young designer with Nigerian-Indian origins has incorporated files and documents into T-shirts, and has used a fading method on some of the pieces and inserted pieces of gold embroidery onto the shirts and dresses.
    Hikmat Mohammed, WWD, 21 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • From a position of dominance, Newcastle wilted, ceding the initiative and inviting pressure.
    Chris Waugh, The Athletic, 24 Feb. 2025
  • Add 1 ounce of citrus sauce, stirring until the greens are slightly wilted.
    Peter Burke, Fox News, 20 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • Fed officials are closely monitoring inflation and the labor market for signs of a potentially weakening economy.
    CBS News, CBS News, 27 Feb. 2025
  • But the Trump administration's new cuts further weaken a banking watchdog that has been sounding the alarm for years about its decreasing ability to prevent future banking crises.
    Maria Aspan, NPR, 27 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • Golden State dared Houston to shoot jumpers, mixing in zones and sagging off their shooters to negate the young Rockets’ elite athletes.
    Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 14 Feb. 2025
  • When hotel staff noticed that fronds on the trees were starting to sag, an arborist was brought in to diagnose the problem.
    Noah Lyons, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • This goes for the show's host, Kevin O'Connor, and its core cast of experts — Tom Silva, Richard Trethewey and Jenn Nawada — and for members of production who are behind the scenes.
    Maddie McGay, USA TODAY, 25 Feb. 2025
  • The Vatican said in a statement on Monday morning that for Francis, the night had gone well.
    Emma Bubola, New York Times, 24 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • According to the January 29 data, cases of illness were reported in California, Illinois, Massachusetts,, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania, In a break from its usual conduct, the CDC has failed to update its tracking webpages to include either outbreak.
    Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA TODAY, 23 Feb. 2025
  • The Oilers failed to shut down Michkov, though, who had his second career 3-point effort and could be rejuvenated for the stretch run.
    Kevin Kurz, The Athletic, 23 Feb. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Wither.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wither. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.

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