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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.

They looked absolutely freezing, which was not a surprise as it was a perishing January night in Lancashire.

From BBC • Jan. 7, 2026

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

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

From Slate • Nov. 26, 2022

“Will you tell us about the new house, Bull? I’m perishing from curiosity,” Lillian spoke.

From "The Great Santini" by Pat Conroy