shrivel

verb

shriv·​el ˈshri-vəl How to pronounce shrivel (audio)
 especially Southern  ˈsri-
shriveled or shrivelled; shriveling or shrivelling ˈshri-vəl-iŋ How to pronounce shrivel (audio)
ˈsri-;
ˈshriv-liŋ,
ˈsriv-

intransitive verb

1
: to draw into wrinkles especially with a loss of moisture
2
a
: to become reduced to inanition, helplessness, or inefficiency
b

transitive verb

: to cause to shrivel

Examples of shrivel in a Sentence

plants shriveling in the heat
Recent Examples on the Web As the season wears on, these seeds begin to shrivel, turning to a pale army green color. Carly Westerfield, Bon Appétit, 9 Mar. 2024 This would be his third such message, and the first to a Congress whose Republican strength had shriveled following setbacks in the most recent midterm elections. Harold Holzer, Smithsonian Magazine, 8 Feb. 2024 This succulent goes dormant during the summer months, and its leaves shrivel right before that happens. Andrea Beck, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 Feb. 2024 Both sources of revenue have shriveled and the city now faces a hefty budget deficit. Dan Walters, The Mercury News, 1 Feb. 2024 Choose red potatoes that are firm and smooth; avoid ones that are shriveled or have gashes and bruises. Southern Living Test Kitchen, Southern Living, 12 Nov. 2023 These grapes will shrivel, and their sugars will concentrate until the second picking in late October or November. Mike Desimone and Jeff Jenssen, Robb Report, 29 Dec. 2023 Kyiv allowed many of its factories to close—and the defense sector to shrivel. Daniel Block, The Atlantic, 19 Dec. 2023 The shriveling Sixers weren’t the only thing the Celtics put to rest with their rousing 112-88 rout Sunday in Game 7 of their Eastern Conference semifinal. Chad Finn, BostonGlobe.com, 15 May 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'shrivel.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

origin unknown

First Known Use

1565, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of shrivel was in 1565

Dictionary Entries Near shrivel

Cite this Entry

“Shrivel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shrivel. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

shrivel

verb
shriv·​el ˈshriv-əl How to pronounce shrivel (audio)
shriveled or shrivelled; shriveling or shrivelling -(ə-)liŋ How to pronounce shrivel (audio)
: to shrink and become dry and wrinkled
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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