shrivel

verb

shriv·​el ˈshri-vəl 

 especially Southern  ˈsri-

shriveled or shrivelled; shriveling or shrivelling ˈshri-vəl-iŋ 

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

: dwindle

transitive verb

: to cause to shrivel

Examples of shrivel in a Sentence

plants shriveling in the heat

Recent Examples on the Web

Iran's Long Drought Lake Urmia, among the largest in the Middle East, shrivels from 2020-2025. —Amir Daftari, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 Aug. 2025

According to The Washington Post, a document drafted by Biden administration officials intended to limit the use of sanctions to urgent national security problems inexorably shriveled from 40 pages to eight pages of toothless recommendations. —Henry Farrell, Foreign Affairs, 19 Aug. 2025

At seven and a half months, the untreated mice looked small and shrivelled, with thin gray coats and curved spines. —Dhruv Khullar, New Yorker, 11 Aug. 2025

Avoid peppers that are shriveled, bruised, or have soft spots. —Heather Riske, Better Homes & Gardens, 24 July 2025

Word History

Etymology

origin unknown

First Known Use

1565, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Rhymes for shrivel

• civil
• divil
• drivel
• swivel
• uncivil

Kids Definition

shrivel

verb

shriv·​el ˈshriv-əl 

shriveled or shrivelled; shriveling or shrivelling -(ə-)liŋ 

: to shrink and become dry and wrinkled