wither away
Slowly fade out
To wither away is to gradually decline until nothing remains.
Plants wither away from lack of water; hopes wither away from neglect.
The phrase implies slow, inevitable diminishment rather than sudden disappearance: His influence withered away after the scandal.
In Marxist theory, the state is supposed to wither away after the revolution succeeds.
- wiltLose vigor, sag
- die outCease to exist entirely
- atrophyWasting from disuse
- declineDecrease or refuse
- lose groundSuffer setback in progress
perish · diminish · shrink back · stagnate · degenerate · shrivel · fade · decay · dissolve · languish · crumble · disappear · turn to dust · deteriorate · wizen · droop · dry · leaves