DYING Synonyms: 169 Similar and Opposite Words

dying 1 of 3

adjective

ˈdī-iŋ

Definition of dying

as in fallen

nearly dead we watered the dying plants just in time

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

dying

2 of 3

noun

as in death

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

dying

3 of 3

verb

present participle of die

as in perishing

to stop living the king died of old age after a long and fruitful reign

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in ending

to come to an end the storm died just as dawn was breaking over the horizon

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in failing

to stop functioning fortunately, when the engine died we were only two blocks from home

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

starting (up)

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 dying

Adjective

What’s the vibe for you, post-dying? — Sean T. Collins, Vulture, 22 June 2026 Garden centers aren't giving a refund for a dying or dead plant but rather a discount on a new purchase. — Lauren David, Southern Living, 17 Dec. 2025

Noun

As many people who care for a dying loved one know all too well, the grieving process started for Bullock long before Randall died. — Bethy Squires, Vulture, 19 Aug. 2026 In contrast, those with all three conditions averaged just 17 years before developing dementia or dying. — Khloe Quill, FOXNews.com, 10 Aug. 2026 Advertisement In the final phase of dying—a period Barbara Karnes, a hospice nurse and educator since the 1970s, calls labor—many people become nonresponsive. — Angela Haupt, Time, 5 Aug. 2026 But does a basil plant covered in black spots mean its dying? — Heather Bien, The Spruce, 26 July 2026 Due to such discomfort – or for other reasons – people often delay making plans for their own dying process. — Jane Callahan, The Conversation, 14 July 2026 Tis hard to see the mighty prancing war horse, trampling the dying and dead beneath their merciless feet. — Rose Horowitch, The Atlantic, 8 July 2026 However, his second wife, Alicent Hightower (played as a young girl by Emily Carey and as an adult by Olivia Cooke), interprets his incoherent dying words as a change of heart in favor of her son, Aegon II Targaryen (played as a child by Ty Tennant and as an adult by Tom Glynn-Carney). — Encyclopedia Britannica, 22 June 2026 After the woman departed the cruise liner where the hantavirus outbreak occurred, the ship continued to other destinations in the South Atlantic, with some passengers falling ill and at least three dying. — Matthew Lee, Los Angeles Times, 11 June 2026

Verb

Working together can save people from getting sick or dying from Salmonella. — Kimberly Baker, The Conversation, 31 Aug. 2026 So, turn around your thinking and instead of dying with the largest bank balance, aim for $0. — Medora Lee, USA Today, 31 Aug. 2026 Scientists in South Africa are investigating why masses of sardines have washed up dead or dying along parts of the country’s west and south coast — and if a herpes virus detected in the fish is responsible. — Michelle Gumede, Los Angeles Times, 29 Aug. 2026 In March, a man attacked Temple Israel synagogue in a Detroit suburb, ramming his car into the building and opening fire on a security guard before dying by suicide. — ABC News, 29 Aug. 2026 The title track is about love and relationships being a dying art, but the title speaks on a much broader level given the influx of AI. — Melinda Newman, Billboard, 28 Aug. 2026 The home side are coming off a dramatic game against Newcastle, where midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai converted a penalty in the dying moments of the game to level the score 2-2 and snatch a point for the Reds. — Jibin Joseph, PC Magazine, 28 Aug. 2026 There are a lot of things that feel like a dying art right now. — Marissa R. Moss, Rolling Stone, 28 Aug. 2026 Cantu’s wife, who heard her husband, then exits the home and comes to the horrid realization that her husband is dead or dying on the front yard. — Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 25 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for dying

Adjective

In the eight-episode Robocop series, written by Ocko, a giant tech conglomerate pursuades the city to place a powerful robot on its police force – a robot implanted with the consciousness of a beloved fallen officer, Alex Murphy (Stevens).

— Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 25 Aug. 2026
Israel erected a monument to the fallen Altalena militants in 2008 on the Tel Aviv seafront and has been searching for the wreckage for years, with crews often working in secrecy.

— CBS News, CBS News, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of fallen

Noun

Styles’ tribute to Parton is one of the innumerable remembrances across the globe following her death after a brief battle with cancer at 80.

— Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 27 Aug. 2026
The story follows Ana, a young Black French woman who, following the death of her grandmother, travels to her matriarch’s birth city of Belo Horizonte.

— Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of death

Verb

This summer has been a deadly one in Europe, with over 10,000 people perishing in the extreme heat over just a few weeks.

— Morgan Simon, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026
Julie Chen Moonves shares her thoughts on that wild Big Brother premiere, including Rachel Reilly perishing in a volcano.

— Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 10 July 2026

Definition of perishing

Verb

Angels shortstop Zach Neto capped a 12-pitch at-bat in the eighth with a solo homer off Phillies reliever Jonathan Bowlan, tying the score 1-1 and ending a string of 30 consecutive innings without an extra-base hit for the Angels.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 30 Aug. 2026
Sony has committed to ending production of new PlayStation discs starting in 2028, but Xbox has taken advantage of the negative sentiment around that, talking about game preservation with a new, rather cool, disc-to-digital system.

— Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of ending

Verb

In a statement given to the The Athletic on Wednesday, Hampshire Police confirmed that Sterling had been charged with dangerous driving, possession of nitrous oxide for wrongful inhalation and failing to provide a specimen.

— Jessica Hopkins, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026
Last Year The Cowboys experienced a bizarre, roller-coaster 2025 season, ultimately finishing 7-9-1 and failing to qualify for the postseason.

— David Troy OutKick, FOXNews.com, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of failing

Adjective

Current policy allows airport facilities to be named only for people who have been dead at least two years and who made significant contributions to the airport authority or aviation in Middle Tennessee.

— Hadley Hitson, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2026
To that end, Chris Diamantopoulos looks like an inspired bit of casting as Mitch McNamara, a government agent who swoops in to examine eight dead Jasons and a ninth the police are holding in an interrogation room.

— Scott Tobias, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of dead

Noun

The losses linked to the demise of these groups are difficult to quantify, but participants and advocates say the impacts will reverberate across federal agencies for years.

— Katia Riddle, NPR, 29 Aug. 2026
The Syrian civil war that began during that period eventually saw the demise of the Assad regime – Hafez’s son Bashar had continued his father’s hard-line legacy after coming to power in 2000.

— Jason M. Blazakis, The Conversation, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of demise

Verb

In its place is a head of dark, longer hair parted down the middle, with loose curtain bangs falling across his forehead and framing his face.

— Daisy Maldonado, InStyle, 26 Aug. 2026
Oil prices have extended recent losses in response to the statement, with international benchmark Brent crude falling below the $90 per barrel mark overnight.

— Mike Sheen,Kevin Breuninger, CNBC, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of falling

Cite this Entry

Style

“Dying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dying. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of dying

adjective

noun

verb

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