What does withered mean?
Withered describes something that has lost its moisture and vitality, becoming dry, shriveled, brittle, or wasted. It is commonly used of leaves, flowers, branches, and other plant material, but it can also describe a person whose face or body appears thin and aged. As a verb, withered describes the process of decay: flowers wither in heat, vegetation withers during a drought, and an institution or talent may metaphorically wither through neglect. The word carries both literal and figurative associations with decline, but it often suggests a natural or gradual change rather than an abrupt ending. Its slightly literary sound gives ordinary descriptions of damaged plants or faded beauty a vivid, poetic quality, while its use about people can be unkind or stark.
Dried up, shriveled, or reduced to a weak and wasted condition.
"A withered branch lay across the garden wall."
Often figurative, especially when describing beauty, talent, or prospects that have faded or declined.
To become dry, shriveled, or decayed; to cause something to become weak or deteriorate.
"The drought withered the crops."
Can be used literally or metaphorically for physical decay and for gradual decline.
Withered captures the moment when living color drains away and leaves only a brittle reminder of former vitality.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does withered come from?
Withered belongs to the English word family of wither, a verb meaning to become dry or shriveled, with roots in Old English usage for drying or withering. The form was produced by adding the ending -ed to the base verb, yielding both a past-tense form and a past participle. The same form also became an adjective describing something that has dried up or declined.
Related word forms
How withered is actually used
The word is somewhat literary and often suggests a slow process of decay, aging, or decline. When applied to people, it can sound severe or deliberately poetic.
Easily confused with withered
Withered describes something that has dried up or shriveled, whereas weathered describes something worn or altered by exposure to the weather.