any weakening or degeneration (especially through lack of use)
withering
How to use withering in a sentence. Example sentences and definitions for withering.
Editorial note
The room went quiet, and my boss shot me \n a withering look.
Quick take
any weakening or degeneration (especially through lack of use)
Meaning at a glance
The clearest senses and uses of withering gathered in one view.
wreaking or capable of wreaking complete destruction; "possessing annihilative power"; "a devastating hurricane"; "the guns opened a withering fire"
making light of; "afire with annihilating invective"; "a devastating portrait of human folly"; "to compliments inflated I've a withering reply"- W.S.Gilbert
Definitions
Core meanings and parts of speech for withering.
noun
any weakening or degeneration (especially through lack of use)
See also: atrophy
adjective
wreaking or capable of wreaking complete destruction; "possessing annihilative power"; "a devastating hurricane"; "the guns opened a withering fire"
See also: annihilative, annihilating, devastating
adjective
making light of; "afire with annihilating invective"; "a devastating portrait of human folly"; "to compliments inflated I've a withering reply"- W.S.Gilbert
See also: annihilating, devastating
Example sentences
The room went quiet, and my boss shot me \n a withering look.
No one under the age of 18 that I talked with has any idea that this movie is a "withering criticism of where we are".
He had written a couple of withering status / strategy updates to them while we were losing our contracting clients, so nobody was surprised in the end.
The smug, withering, contempt of news writers in twenty years will be something to behold: how could those primitives allow themselves that awful road carnage for so long?
There is no right answer to the debate between being there as long as you can for them and not wanting to have them experience their parents withering away and dying, entirely helpless.
The university declined, knowing that the requisite environmental impact study for relicensing would bring withering community backlash.
Frequently asked questions
Short answers drawn from the clearest meanings and examples for this word.
How do you use withering in a sentence?
The room went quiet, and my boss shot me \n a withering look.
What does withering mean?
any weakening or degeneration (especially through lack of use)
What part of speech is withering?
withering is commonly used as noun, adjective.