withered meaning and definition

WITHERED adjective

Definition of withered (adjective)

1. lean and wrinkled by shrinkage as from age or illness
   • "the old woman's shriveled skin"; "he looked shriveled and ill"; "a shrunken old man"; "a lanky scarecrow of a man with withered face and lantern jaws"-W.F.Starkie; "he did well despite his withered arm"; "a wizened little man with frizzy grey hair"
   • synonyms: shriveled, shrivelled, shrunken, wizen, wizened
2. (used especially of vegetation) having lost all moisture
   • "dried-up grass"; "the desert was edged with sere vegetation"; "shriveled leaves on the unwatered seedlings"; "withered vines"
   • synonyms: dried-up, sear, sere, shriveled, shrivelled