perishing

[per-i-shing]

adjective

1. causing destruction, ruin, extreme discomfort, or death.

   lost in the perishing cold.

perishing

/ ˈpɛrɪʃɪŋ /

adjective

1. informal,  (of weather, etc) extremely cold

2. slang,  (intensifier qualifying something undesirable)

   it's a perishing nuisance!

Other Word Forms

• perishingly adverb
• nonperishing adjective
• unperishing adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of perishing¹

late Middle English word dating back to 1400–50; perish, -ing ²

Example Sentences

We sit there for a while and wait for Nansi to arrive, box me up, and take me to my perishing.

Read more on Literature

Although Alice never ran the risk of actually perishing in Wonderland, Arisu is another matter because of the very nature of the Borderland and how you gain entry through a near-death experience.

Read more on Salon

All that’s clear is massive landmarks are perishing and that you need to run.

Read more on Salon

Can’t say the local GOP is perishing, but given the above, it doesn’t seem too healthy.

Read more on Seattle Times

One woman told us this Easter was bittersweet: "I don't feel good when I see Haiti is perishing. Especially when I see my brothers and sisters dying from bullets in Port-au-Prince."

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• blight 
• corrosion 
• decomposition 
• degeneration 
• deterioration 
• disintegration 
• disrepair 
• extinction 
• impairment 
• rot