wither
/'wi /
Definition
Verb (intransitive):
- To become dry, shriveled, or faded; to lose freshness, vigor, or vitality, often due to a lack of water, age, or adverse conditions.
- To diminish or decline in force, intensity, or importance.
Verb (transitive):
- To cause something to become dry, shriveled, or faded; to cause a loss of freshness or vitality.
- To cause someone to feel humiliated, ashamed, or disconcerted, often through a scornful look or remark.
Usage Examples
Intransitive Verb:
- Without water, the flowers began to wither.
- His enthusiasm for the project withered after repeated setbacks.
- The old tree's branches withered in the drought.
Transitive Verb:
- The intense summer sun withered the crops.
- Her harsh criticism withered his confidence.
- He withered his opponent with a single, contemptuous glance.
Advanced Usage
"Wither on the vine": To fail to be developed, used, or addressed; to be neglected and come to nothing.
- Several good proposals withered on the vine due to lack of funding.
"Wither away": To gradually disappear, diminish, or become weaker until nothing remains.
- After the scandal, public support for the politician withered away.
Variants and Related Words
- Withered (adjective): Describes something that has become dry, shriveled, or lost vitality.
- She held a bouquet of withered roses.
- Withering (adjective): Intensely scornful, humiliating, or destructive.
- He responded with a withering critique of their plan.
- Witheringly (adverb): In a withering manner.
- She looked at him witheringly.
Synonyms
- Shrivel: To contract and become wrinkled, often due to loss of moisture.
- Wilt: To become limp, droop, or lose freshness (especially for plants).
- Fade: To lose brightness, vividness, or strength gradually.
- Atrophy: To waste away or decline, typically from disuse or disease (often for body parts or skills).
Related Phrasal Verbs
- Wither up: To become completely dry and shriveled.
- The leaves withered up in the autumn heat.
Related Idioms
- A withering look/glance/stare: A look that is intended to make someone feel ashamed or humiliated.
- She gave him a withering look that silenced him immediately.
Verb
- lose freshness, vigor, or vitality
- Her bloom was fading
- wither, as with a loss of moisture
- The fruit dried and shriveled
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