1
as in to die
to stop living
12 people perished in the plane crash
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to decompose
chiefly British
to go through decomposition
after being left out in the summer heat, the milk perished and had to be thrown out
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of perish
There, every sixth U.S. fatality perished by the efforts of Iran.
—
Karl Vick, Time, 22 June 2025
In a cautionary tale about exceeding one's limits (and ignoring the cautionary warnings of one's father), in Greek mythology, Icarus, son of Daedalus, perished after flying too close to the sun, melting the wax that held the feathers on the wings his father had made him.
—Michael Khouw, CNBC, 5 June 2025
Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis was a summer visitor, as was her late son John F. Kennedy Jr., who perished in a plane crash off the coast with his wife Carolyn Bessette and sister-in-law Lauren in 1999.
—Rosemary Feitelberg, Footwear News, 27 June 2025
Hundreds of Israeli civilians were injured in Iranian attacks, many homes were destroyed, and a few dozen civilians were killed, including five who perished in an Iranian attack on Beersheba minutes before the cease-fire took effect.
—Arash Azizi, The Atlantic, 25 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for perish
Karl Vick, Time, 22 June 2025
In a cautionary tale about exceeding one's limits (and ignoring the cautionary warnings of one's father), in Greek mythology, Icarus, son of Daedalus, perished after flying too close to the sun, melting the wax that held the feathers on the wings his father had made him.
—Michael Khouw, CNBC, 5 June 2025
Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis was a summer visitor, as was her late son John F. Kennedy Jr., who perished in a plane crash off the coast with his wife Carolyn Bessette and sister-in-law Lauren in 1999.
—Rosemary Feitelberg, Footwear News, 27 June 2025
Hundreds of Israeli civilians were injured in Iranian attacks, many homes were destroyed, and a few dozen civilians were killed, including five who perished in an Iranian attack on Beersheba minutes before the cease-fire took effect.
—Arash Azizi, The Atlantic, 25 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for perish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for perish
Verb
-
If their parents died, the sisters would split their inheritance.—
Rosalio Ahumada,
Sacbee.com,
14 July 2025
-
The department’s homicide unit is investigating the death, as is the department’s protocol when someone dies while in custody.—
Teri Figueroa,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
14 July 2025
Verb
-
The decomposing roots serve as the host for the mushrooms to grow.—
Chris McKeown,
The Enquirer,
2 July 2025
-
The metamorphic rock from which Atlanta’s soil is derived also contributes to its alkalinity as does the constantly decomposing organic matter, consisting mostly of leaves, on the soil surface.—
Joshua Siskin,
Oc Register,
28 June 2025
Verb
-
Ratner points to kindergarten vaccination rates, which have been falling nationwide for years and are currently at 92.7%.—
Maria Godoy,
NPR,
9 July 2025
-
Partner that with another warning sign: A declining ratio of U.S. exports to imports while the U.S. deficit increases into record territory – like trade falling two months in a row, atypical since the former tends to remain steady even as the deficit increases.—
Ken Roberts,
Forbes.com,
9 July 2025
Verb
-
Organic materials like wood, leather, and fabric — which often remain remarkably preserved in the cold, low-oxygen depths — can begin to warp, crumble or disintegrate as dormant bacteria and fungi reactivate.—
Jordan Runtagh,
People.com,
6 July 2025
-
Researchers think the deceased was buried in a wooden coffin that has long since disintegrated.—
Sonja Anderson,
Smithsonian Magazine,
3 July 2025
Verb
-
Immigration enforcement operations on farms have left crops rotting and farm operations disrupted in major agricultural states including California, Texas, and Pennsylvania.—
Billal Rahman
Dan Gooding,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 June 2025
-
Avoid sodding shady spots during the rainy season to prevent decline due to rot problems.—
Tom MacCubbin,
The Orlando Sentinel,
28 June 2025
Verb
-
However, when viruses were exposed to sunlight, many of them did not survive as long, decaying in under 24 hours.—
Jack Knudson,
Discover Magazine,
13 Mar. 2025
-
The result was not only environmental catastrophe but license for unchecked consumption of cheap plastic goods that can take a few minutes to use but hundreds of years to decay.—
Scott W. Stern,
The Atlantic,
10 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Perish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/perish. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share