to become dry and shriveled, to lose force or vitality, to cause to become dry and shriveled

wither on the vine, withering look, withered hand

Formal and Informal Expressions of wither

In different contexts, you can replace 'wither' with suitable alternatives. In a more formal setting, 'shrivel, fade' is apt. In informal speech or writing, 'die, crumble' is a commonplace synonym.

wither: Explore its Definition & Usage

wither Definition

1to become dry and shriveled
2to lose force or vitality
3to cause to become dry and shriveled

Using wither: Examples

Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "wither" can be used in various situations through the following examples!

Example
The flowers withered in the heat of the sun.
Example
His hopes for a promotion withered away after the company's financial crisis.
Example
The drought withered the crops.
Example
Her confidence withered under the constant criticism.

wither Synonyms and Antonyms

Synonyms for wither

Antonyms for wither

Phrases with wither

wither on the vine
to fail or end without achieving success or producing any useful result
Example
The project was promising at first, but it withered on the vine due to lack of funding.
withering look
a look of strong disapproval or contempt
Example
She gave him a withering look when he made the inappropriate joke.
withered hand
a hand that is shrunken, dried up, or paralyzed
Example
He was born with a withered hand, which made it difficult for him to perform certain tasks.

Origins of wither

from Old English 'wiðrian', meaning 'to against, opposite'

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Summary: wither in Brief

'Wither' [ˈwɪðər] is a verb that describes the process of becoming dry and shriveled, losing force or vitality, or causing something to become dry and shriveled. Examples include 'The flowers withered in the heat of the sun.' and 'Her confidence withered under the constant criticism.' The phrase 'wither on the vine' denotes failure or lack of success, while 'withering look' refers to a look of strong disapproval or contempt.