withering

American  

[with-er-ing] / ˈwɪð ər ɪŋ /

adjective

1. scathing; deeply humiliating; contemptuous.

2. causing harm or loss of vitality; damaging.

3. (of plants) wilting or shriveling up, such as from disease or lack of moisture.

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Explanation

Withering is the process of becoming weaker. You can watch the withering of a flower bouquet in water — over the days and weeks, the blossoms become droopy and faded. You might talk about the withering of trees in a drought or the withering of people's bank accounts during an economic recession. Withering can also be used as an adjective, to describe something with a terrible, destructive strength, like a withering hurricane. It comes from the verb wither, to dry up or shrivel, from the Old English word wydderen, which is a variation on wederen, "to expose to the weather."

Example Sentences

It's a nuanced view that doesn't lend itself to easy explanations – and has opened up Massie to withering attacks from Trump-aligned Republicans, a criticism his allies seek to dispel.

From BBC • May 18, 2026

Streeting quit the government Thursday with a withering assessment of Starmer's leadership, but no other senior minister followed suit and the 43-year-old MP did not immediately trigger a leadership contest.

From Barron's • May 16, 2026

Civil rights activists in the South had a withering appraisal of the decision.

From Salon • Apr. 30, 2026

How are you going to fly two withering, highly contagious people from Africa to America without killing them or infecting others on the plane?

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 20, 2026

Emma began to protest, but Miss Peregrine shut her down with a withering glare.

From "Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children" by Ransom Riggs