WILTED Synonyms: 70 Similar and Opposite Words

wilted

verb

past tense of wilt

as in drooped

to be limp from lack of water or vigor the plants wilted after I forgot to water them for three whole days

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in faded

to lose bodily strength or vigor she had wilted a bit after walking around the hot and humid city

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in dried

to lose liveliness, force, or freshness after six solid hours of painting, his energy was starting to wilt

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 wilted Cook 2 large shallots, thinly sliced into rings, and ⅓ cup extra-virgin olive oil in a medium skillet over medium-high heat, stirring often, until shallots are wilted and most are golden brown and crisp, 8–10 minutes. — Rebecca Firkser, Bon Appetit Magazine, 13 Aug. 2026 For some greens, stir in two big handfuls of spinach with the tomato sauce and cook until wilted. — ABC News, 10 Aug. 2026 How much water hydrangeas actually need varies depending on the species and your soil type; however, plants that look wilted or drooping may be asking for a drink. — Lauren Landers, The Spruce, 28 July 2026 Leaves may look wilted or droopy during excessive heat due to temporary heat stress, particularly midday. — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 19 July 2026 The temperature that day had reached 99 degrees and the city had wilted, but the downpour caused the mercury to plummet a good 10 degrees. — Jessica Gelt, Los Angeles Times, 10 July 2026 Unfortunately, daytime watering offers little to plants beyond minor temperature regulation and perhaps emergency rescue when especially wilted. — Anthony Reardon, Kansas City Star, 7 July 2026 Meanwhile, if the dark green tips or outer stems are wilted, simply remove them. — Martha Stewart, 6 July 2026 Some fighters like Jaime Munguia have wilted in this situation. — Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 4 July 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for wilted

Verb

The man raised his arms to a figure in the branches, a woman whose head drooped, hair loose, wet, falling forward across her face, her breasts.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 16 July 2026
The chickens stomp with swift feet like an Irish step dancer, keeping their tails erect and wings drooped.

— Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 29 Apr. 2026

Definition of drooped

Verb

Their content together, appearances, red carpet moments, casual clips of them out in Los Angeles, has kept fans invested in their story past the finale, extending the shelf life of a couple that could otherwise have faded once the season ended.

— Olivia Shalhoup, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026
The next major episode of persistent trade imbalances was the rare case in which the imbalances faded away without causing major disruption.

— MICHAEL PETTIS, Foreign Affairs, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of faded

Verb

Debris hung from tree branches and wires, vehicles were buried and some stunned survivors were caked in mud.

— Niranjan Shrestha, Los Angeles Times, 27 Aug. 2026
The living room’s vintage Fortuny drapes are the exception that proves the rule, spotted by Higgins in a Newport consignment shop mid-vacation and hung exactly as found.

— Caroline Randall Williams, Architectural Digest, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of hung

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
Fruits—except for rose hips, withered wild grapes and perhaps a few others—are pretty much gone.

— Tom Huggler, Outdoor Life, 13 Aug. 2026

Definition of withered

Verb

Officers quickly converged to help subdue the teen, with Merks pulling the gun from the backside of his jeans, which had sagged below his mid-thigh.

— Cristóbal Reyes, The Orlando Sentinel, 20 Aug. 2026
Flags sagged in the rain and translucent ponchos billowed in the wind, but the sound of bagpipes and a booming sousaphone kept the crowd moving.

— Lila Hempel-Edgers, Chicago Tribune, 1 Aug. 2026

Definition of sagged

Browse Nearby Words

wilt

wilted

wilting

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

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

Copy Citation

Synonyms of wilted

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

dissonant

Popular in Grammar & Usage

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Why does English have so many silent letters?

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Popular in Wordplay

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Games & Quizzes