wither
Lose all moisture
Wither means to dry up, shrivel, or lose vitality.
Plants wither from lack of water; hopes wither from neglect.
A withering look or withering criticism is scornful enough to make someone shrink.
The phrase wither on the vine describes something that dies from inattention before reaching fruition: The proposal withered on the vine when no one championed it.
Lose intensity gradually
- diminishTo make smaller
- waneDecrease gradually
- ebbGradual retreat seaward
- dwindleDecrease gradually over time
languish · atrophy · weaken · shrink · recede · subside · lessen · taper
Surface fold or crease
- shrivelContract from dryness
- wizenedShrunken from age
- gnarledTwisted and knotty
- weatheredEroded by exposure
haggard · lined · desiccated · ancient · decrepit · senescent · time-worn · hoary
Organic breakdown process
- decomposeBreak into simpler parts
- deteriorateGrow worse over time
- crumbleFragment gradually
- disintegrateBreak into fragments
mold · putrefy · spoil · corrode · degrade · perish · compost · breakdown
Lose vigor, sag
- shrinkDecrease in size
- cowerShrink back in dread
- cringeShrink from discomfort
- recoilBackward force from discharge
deflate · humiliate · rebuke · glare · intimidate · scathing · contempt · disdain
Left behind completely
- untendedNot looked after
- unmaintainedNot kept in repair
- disusedNo longer in operation
- forgottenNo longer recalled
overgrown · derelict · dilapidated · forsaken · uncared-for · ignored · disregarded · shabby
wilt
Lose vigor, sag
brown · die-back · blight · sere · desiccate · parch · scorch · yellowing · crisp · brittle
fade
Lose intensity gradually
dwindle · languish · atrophy · weaken · shrink · recede · subside · lessen · taper · deplete
wrinkle
Surface fold or crease
weathered · haggard · lined · desiccated · ancient · decrepit · senescent · time-worn · hoary · shrunken
rot
Organic breakdown process
- decomposeBreak into simpler parts
- deteriorateGrow worse over time
- crumbleFragment gradually
disintegrate · mold · putrefy · spoil · corrode · degrade · perish · compost · breakdown · biodegradation
wilt
Lose vigor, sag
recoil · deflate · humiliate · rebuke · glare · intimidate · scathing · contempt · disdain · cutting
abandoned
Left behind completely
- untendedNot looked after
- unmaintainedNot kept in repair
- disusedNo longer in operation
forgotten · overgrown · derelict · dilapidated · forsaken · uncared-for · ignored · disregarded · shabby · unkempt
witherrevive
Restore consciousness or vigor
recover · rebound · rally · recuperate · convalesce
- withered on the vinePerished from inattention
- withering awayGradual decline toward nothing
- wither awayGradually decline and vanish
- wither on the vineFail through neglect
- withering lookDisapproving stare conveying contempt
- withered awayDeclined until gone