WILT Synonyms: 66 Similar and Opposite Words

wilt

verb

ˈwilt

Definition of wilt

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

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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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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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 wilt Sinner, who needed the title to complete a career Grand Slam of his own, lost to Argentina’s Juan Manuel Cerúndolo from the verge of victory, wilting in the heat of Paris and with no little help from an illness. — James Hansen, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2026 In contrast, drought stress causes grass foliage to wilt, roll, or fold. — Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 21 Aug. 2026 Cucumbers turn bitter, tomato flowers shrivel, leaves wilt, and pests such as whiteflies and spider mites run rampant across the fields. — Taylor Luck, Christian Science Monitor, 17 Aug. 2026 Other key signs include dead grass, wilting plants, or root damage near the mounds, as the tunneling can negatively impact your yard and garden. — Michelle Mastro, Martha Stewart, 14 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for wilt

Recent Examples of Synonyms for wilt

Verb

Petals that are fading, drooping, dropping off, or turning brown are all signs that the flower is reaching the end of its life and is ready to be removed.

— The Spruce, The Spruce, 20 Aug. 2026
Prevent drooping by watering deeply in the morning, improving drainage, and pruning to maintain airflow and plant health.

— Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 9 Aug. 2026

Definition of droop

Verb

Bitcoin has been in a prolonged slump since October, and BTIG noted that a similar surge in January 2023 initially faded before the cryptocurrency found support around its 200-day moving average.

— Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 25 Aug. 2026
The crimson hue that may have been visible at the height of the eclipse will gradually fade as the crescent of the lunar disk exposed to direct sunlight grows, and normality reasserts itself over the natural satellite.

— Anthony Wood, Space.com, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of fade

Verb

Great at absorbing moisture while still preventing the growth of bacteria, these socks will dry quickly and minimize irritation.

— BestReviews, Chicago Tribune, 25 Aug. 2026
Users usually chew it for an effect similar to amphetamines, or it is dried and boiled to create a stimulant tea.

— Sara Tenenbaum, CBS News, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of dry

Verb

Her drawings hung beside pieces by Henry Darger, Bill Traylor, and James Castle—canonical artists in the genre.

— Laura Preston, New Yorker, 30 Aug. 2026
Above the staircase hangs a glimmering bronze-and-glass chandelier, a more conventional way of filling empty space on a superyacht—if conventional is the right word for a chandelier that weighs 350 kilograms.

— Dea Jusufi, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of hang

Verb

Even if Korea can maintain 2% economic growth over the next two decades, consumption growth gradually weakens and eventually turns negative, according to Goldman’s long-term modeling.

— Mia Osmonbekov, Fortune, 30 Aug. 2026
Riggs said the Teamsters’ safety argument is weakened by the inconsistent safety record of human truck drivers, who have fallen asleep at the wheel or driven while distracted or otherwise impaired.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of weaken

Verb

As Florida’s winter dry season stretched into a near rainless wet season, the central Everglades has withered into extreme drought conditions.

— Jenny Staletovich, Miami Herald, 27 Aug. 2026
Some reports suggested Bonta’s office sought the negotiations amid withering political pressure.

— Meg James, Los Angeles Times, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of wither

Verb

Beneath that sits a high-density support-foam foundation designed to limit sagging and compression over time, along with a textured anti-slip base to reduce movement on the bed frame.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 24 Aug. 2026
Which is why her character flicks through YouTube plastic surgery videos and stares at older women on the bus, comparing her wrinkles and checking her neck for any signs of sagging.

— Joy Press, Vanity Fair, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of sag

Verb

Even near the end of an August in which the Jays went 17-11, the team posted a near-average wRC+ (101 entering Sunday).

— Mitch Bannon, New York Times, 31 Aug. 2026
In fact, the breakeven rate of employment growth, or the number of net new jobs needed each month to keep the unemployment rate steady, actually went slightly negative during the summer and fall of 2025.

— Jason Ma, Fortune, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of go

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willy-nilly

wilt

wilted

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“Wilt.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wilt. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of wilt

verb

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