withering

American

[with-er-ing] / ˈwɪð ər ɪŋ /

adjective

scathing; deeply humiliating; contemptuous.
causing harm or loss of vitality; damaging.
(of plants) wilting or shriveling up, such as from disease or lack of moisture.

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.

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

“Undertone” is packed with plenty of similarly ridiculous plot points that deflate if you even so much as toss a withering glance their way.

From Salon • Mar. 15, 2026

Both speak to the effectiveness of “It Was Just an Accident,” a withering critique of the cruelty and corruption of an authoritarian regime.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 22, 2026

And Parker, who has not seen his team record a victory since 26 October, delivered a withering assessment of his side's latest showing.

From BBC • Jan. 3, 2026

Octavian stepped forward to speak, but Reyna shot him a withering look.

From "The House of Hades" by Rick Riordan

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023