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Definition of "wither" []

  • To dry up or shrivel from or as if from loss of moisture. (verb-intransitive)
  • To lose freshness; droop. (verb-intransitive)
  • To cause to shrivel or fade. (verb-transitive)
  • To render speechless or incapable of action; stun: The teacher withered the noisy student with a glance. (verb-transitive)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Use "wither" in a sentence
  • "The pink and white impatiens that always seemed to wither from the DC heat looked alive and stood at attention as if they knew they had a special guest."
  • ""Judge me by your own rule, dear Donald," cried his wife, blandishingly kissing his forehead, "and you will not again wither the mother of your boy with such a look as I just now received.""
  • "If we fail here, our national prosperity will wither from the root; no statesmanship can save us long; no present strength can give us any guarantee for our future."