verb

wither

WITH-er/ˈwɪðər/

To dry up or lose strength and vitality.

Without enough water, the flowers wither in the summer heat.

A neglected potted plant with curled, shriveled brown leaves, a sagging stem, and visibly dry, cracked soil makes the literal drying-up sense concrete.

Etymology

witherMiddle Englishto dry up, lose vitality, fade

Middle English widderen meant drying up or losing vitality and apparently developed from a verb meaning “expose to weather.” The loss of freshness in plants also became an image for declining human strength.

In context

Old Time Radio Researchers15:17

his leaves began to wither and drop away until his once beautiful foliage was all but gone

Family Theater - The Story of Little Tree

More examples

The neglected seedlings have withered in their pots.
Her enthusiasm withers when every suggestion meets resistance.
Their influence began to wither after years of poor decisions.

Forms

wither · withers · withered · withering

Similar words

wilt: Emphasizes drooping or becoming limp, often temporarily.
shrivel: Emphasizes visible shrinking and wrinkling as moisture is lost.
fade: Emphasizes gradually losing intensity or strength rather than drying up.