shrivel

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- \

Definition of shrivel

intransitive verb

1 : to draw into wrinkles especially with a loss of moisture

2a : to become reduced to inanition, helplessness, or inefficiency

transitive verb

: to cause to shrivel

Examples of shrivel in a Sentence

plants shriveling in the heat

Recent Examples on the Web But when the coronavirus hit last spring, Medicare revenue began to shrivel as people put off elective surgeries that required rehab or chose to recover at home. — Washington Post, "How government incentives shaped the nursing home business — and left it vulnerable to a pandemic," 9 Sep. 2020 Even with news of two promising vaccines, the consumer spending that powers the nation's economic growth could shrivel amid extended business closures. — NBC News, "Latest initial weekly jobless claims tick up to 742,000," 19 Nov. 2020 Research looking at chronic and long-lasting stressors in mice found that their neurons began to shrivel and wither, while the ones in the amygdala, which alert us to danger, started to grow. — Annie Vainshtein, SFChronicle.com, "Here’s what the election is doing to your brain," 5 Nov. 2020 In the coming weeks, leaves will fall, plants will shrivel, temperatures will sink and Americans will experience growing dread over the unpleasant experience that awaits us in November. — Steve Chapman Chicago Tribune, Star Tribune, "The end of daylight saving time approaches. The question is, why?," 11 Oct. 2020 And, a quarter of recent coal sales went to power plants already slated for retirement, meaning the market will shrivel further, and fast. — Mark Olalde, USA TODAY, "Climate Point: Big Oil is tumbling, and California wants to remove a giant dam," 7 Aug. 2020 By the end of the 19th century, many inhabitants had made their way over to work the plum orchards and operate the prune dryers (barnlike structures where the fruit was set to shrivel up), and the economy was surging. — Beth Graham, Saveur, "This Orcas Island Jam Company Transforms Local Plums into Vibrant Seasonal Preserves," 12 June 2019 The American economy is shriveling at an alarming rate in the biggest and fastest collapse since the Great Depression. — Fox News, "How coronavirus may affect future of American jobs," 30 Apr. 2020 Some small business owners, watching their receipts shrivel up in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic sheltering measures, got a loan to keep things going until shoppers return. — William Thornton | Wthornton@al.com, al, "For small business owners, questions abound with loan program," 18 Apr. 2020

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'shrivel.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Last Updated

6 Dec 2020

Cite this Entry

“Shrivel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shrivel. Accessed 23 Jan. 2021.

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