Definitions

perishing

[per-i-shing] / ˈpɛr ɪ ʃɪŋ /

ADJECTIVE

crumbly

Synonyms

STRONGEST

powdery soft

WEAK

breakable corroded crisp crunchy decayed degenerated deteriorated deteriorating disintegrated eroded fragile frail frangible friable oxidized pulverizable rotted rotten rusted shivery short worn

Antonyms

WEAK

flexible pliable

ADJECTIVE

dying

Synonyms

STRONGEST

decaying doomed fading moribund

STRONG

declining disintegrating ebbing fated final going mortal passing sinking vanishing withering

WEAK

at death's door at end of rope done for giving up the ghost in extremis on last leg one foot in grave

Antonyms

STRONG

permanent

WEAK

creating developing growing living reviving

ADJECTIVE

moribund

Synonyms

WEAK

at death's door at the end of the rope declining done for doomed expiring fading fated going mortal mortally ill on one's deathbed on one's last leg one foot in the grave passing

ADJECTIVE

starving

Synonyms

STRONGEST

dehydrated dying emaciated hungry malnourished undernourished

STRONG

craving drawn empty faint famished haggard hungering peaked pinched skinny starved thin weakened

WEAK

dog-hungry flying light have munchies peaky peckish rattleboned ravenous underfed

Antonyms

STRONG

fat full healthy heavy sated satisfied strong thick

WEAK

satiated

ADJECTIVE

starving/starved

Synonyms

WEAK

could eat a horse craving dehydrated drawn dying emaciated empty faint famished haggard hungering hungry malnourished peaked peckish pinched ravenous skinny thin underfed undernourished weakened

Antonyms

WEAK

fed full satisfied

NOUN

decay

Synonyms

STRONGEST

blight corrosion decomposition degeneration deterioration disintegration disrepair extinction impairment rot

STRONG

adulteration atrophy caries consumption crumbling decadence decline decrease decrepitude degeneracy depreciation dilapidation dissolution downfall dying fading failing gangrene mortification putrefaction putrescence putridity putridness rotting ruin ruination rust senescence spoilage spoilation wasting withering

WEAK

wasting away

Antonyms

STRONGEST

building development growth improvement

STRONG

ascent construction increase morality rise

WEAK

flourish germination ripening strength strengthening

NOUN

putrefaction

Synonyms

STRONG

adulteration atrophy blight breakdown caries consumption corrosion decadence decline decomposition decrease decrepitude degeneracy degeneration depreciation deterioration dilapidation disintegration disrepair dissolution downfall dying extinction fading failing gangrene impairment mortification putrescence putridity putridness rot rottenness rotting ruin ruination rust senescence spoilage spoilation wasting withering

WEAK

crumbling wasting away

Antonyms

STRONG

ascent betterment building combination construction development growth improvement increase morality rise

NOUN

putrescence

Synonyms

STRONG

adulteration atrophy blight breakdown caries consumption corrosion decadence decline decomposition decrease decrepitude degeneracy degeneration depreciation deterioration dilapidation disintegration disrepair dissolution downfall dying extinction fading failing gangrene impairment mortification putrefaction putridity putridness rot rottenness rotting ruin ruination rust senescence spoilage spoilation wasting withering

WEAK

crumbling wasting away

Antonyms

STRONG

ascent betterment building combination construction development growth improvement increase morality rise

NOUN

putridness

Synonyms

STRONG

adulteration atrophy blight breakdown caries consumption corrosion decadence decline decomposition decrease decrepitude degeneracy degeneration depreciation deterioration dilapidation disintegration disrepair dissolution downfall dying extinction fading failing gangrene impairment mortification putrefaction putrescence putridity rot rottenness rotting ruin ruination rust senescence spoilage spoilation wasting withering

WEAK

crumbling wasting away

Antonyms

STRONG

ascent betterment building combination construction development growth improvement increase morality rise

NOUN

spoilage

Synonyms

STRONG

adulteration atrophy blight breakdown caries consumption corrosion decadence decline decomposition decrease decrepitude degeneracy degeneration depreciation deterioration dilapidation disintegration disrepair dissolution downfall dying extinction fading failing gangrene impairment mortification putrefaction putrescence putridity putridness rot rottenness rotting ruin ruination rust senescence spoilation wasting withering

WEAK

crumbling wasting away

Antonyms

STRONG

ascent betterment building combination construction development growth improvement increase morality rise

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

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.

From Salon • Sep. 23, 2025

The young meat-eater had chomped off the hind legs of two parrot-like dinosaurs called caenagnathids before perishing itself.

From National Geographic • Dec. 8, 2023

And she claimed her second victim in her second over, Sarah Bryce perishing for 13 from nine balls when a mis-timed shot resulted in a leading edge that was easily gathered by wicketkeeper Nicole Faltum.

From BBC • Jun. 10, 2023

Levin yelled out into the roar, anything to take his mind off the thought of perishing in a landslide.

From Slate • Nov. 26, 2022

“When a man’s alone on these flats, with a light head and a light stomach, perishing of cold and want, he hears nothin’ all night, but guns firing, and voices calling.

From "Great Expectations" by Charles Dickens

perishing

Example Sentences

Related Words