PERISH Synonyms: 98 Similar and Opposite Words

perish

verb

ˈper-ish

Definition of perish

as in to die

to stop living 12 people perished in the plane crash

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to disintegrate

chiefly British to go through decomposition after being left out in the summer heat, the milk perished and had to be thrown out

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 perish And since the gun-toting librarian who would go on to save the remaining Platts at a vital moment was among the neighbors rescued from this second teleportation, does this mean the children perish too? — Siddhant Adlakha, Vulture, 13 Aug. 2026 The hypothesis that Earhart and Noonan landed on Nikumaroro and later perished there has gained steam in recent years. — Christopher Cann, USA Today, 12 Aug. 2026 On the morning of September 11, 2001, 91 guests and 79 World employees would perish in the devastating terrorist attack on the twin towers. — Matthew Carey, Deadline, 11 Aug. 2026 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 See All Example Sentences for perish

Recent Examples of Synonyms for perish

Verb

Last month, the family of Christopher Hawley, who died after a ride in 2022, reached a settlement with the park and with ride manufacturer S&S Worldwide Inc, said KTLA.

— Chas Newkey-Burden, TheWeek, 2 Sep. 2026
Knight was wounded but survived the attack, while Shakur was struck multiple times and died six days later at age 25.

— Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of die

Verb

The continent's sweltering summer has meanwhile boosted demand for air conditioning and other energy-hungry appliances at a time when demand for gas, widely used for Europe's heating and cooking needs, naturally falls.

— Jenni Reid, CNBC, 27 Aug. 2026
The Oscar winner paired a leopard-print Givenchy fall 2026 dress and the fashion house’s modern take on T-strap high heels.

— Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of fall

Verb

Van der Heijden’s team reported that the fastest decomposing underwear was buried in residential gardens.

— Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 26 Aug. 2026
Determining the causes of death was complicated by how decomposed the bodies were, the medical examiner’s office said.

— Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of decompose

Verb

The Liberty’s deficit stayed in double figures while succumbing to the pressure of Golden State’s small lineups.

— Fiifi Frimpong, New York Daily News, 28 Aug. 2026
Wolf succumbs to Shura, a demonic force in the game’s mythology that possesses those who give in to bloodlust.

— Aman Kumar, Encyclopedia Britannica, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of succumb

Verb

This panic is also nothing new; television was supposed to rot our brains, and radio before that, and somehow the republic survived.

— Mckenna Friedland, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 Aug. 2026
Its paint was peeling, clapboards were rotting, and a tarp covered a leaking roof, according to the Times.

— Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of rot

Verb

Call to action In September 2025, NASA put out a call to action to save Swift, whose orbit was decaying quickly due to high solar activity.

— Leonard David, Space.com, 27 Aug. 2026
The $30-million mission aimed to raise Swift from a rapidly decaying orbit worsened by intense solar activity, preserving a telescope that spent two decades tracking cosmic explosions.

— Marcia Dunn, Los Angeles Times, 23 Aug. 2026