# withering

> English word · Adjective · frequency rank #36,398

## Definitions
1. Tending to destroy, devastate, overwhelm, or cause complete destruction.
2. Diminishing rapidly.
3. Tending to make someone feel small; scornful in a mortifying way.

## Etymology
From wither + -ing.

## Easily confused with
- **watering** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/watering-vs-withering)
- **wintering** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/wintering-vs-withering)
- **weathering** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/weathering-vs-withering)

## Common misspellings (14)
`iwthering`, `wihtering`, `witehring`, `witheirng`, `witherign`, `witheringg`, `witherinng`, `withernig`, `witherring`, `withhering`, `withreing`, `witthering`, `wtihering`, `wwithering`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/withering