1
as in to undermine
to deprive of emotional or intellectual vitality
that historian's dryasdust prose desiccates what is actually an exciting period in European history
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to dry
to make dry
add a cup of desiccated coconut to the mix
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of desiccate
Any cell drifting in the skies is blasted with UV rays and desiccated.
—
Katherine Bourzac, Quanta Magazine, 15 Sep. 2025
In a world that has been desiccated of its resources, and of its ability to care about each other, the people in this novel don’t cry anymore.
—Emily Temple
may 27, Literary Hub, 27 May 2025
Avoid hot, exposed sites which will cause foliage to desiccate.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 16 Apr. 2025
Not only that, but decades of persistent drought and warming temperatures have desiccated reservoirs along the Rio Grande and its tributary, the Chama River.
—Laura Paskus, The Denver Post, 11 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for desiccate
Katherine Bourzac, Quanta Magazine, 15 Sep. 2025
In a world that has been desiccated of its resources, and of its ability to care about each other, the people in this novel don’t cry anymore.
—Emily Temple
may 27, Literary Hub, 27 May 2025
Avoid hot, exposed sites which will cause foliage to desiccate.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 16 Apr. 2025
Not only that, but decades of persistent drought and warming temperatures have desiccated reservoirs along the Rio Grande and its tributary, the Chama River.
—Laura Paskus, The Denver Post, 11 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for desiccate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for desiccate
Verb
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The remarks, delivered to Standard Bank executives and reported for the first time by Semafor, captured the growing unease among policymakers about how quickly the external shocks can undermine domestic planning, especially for an open, import-dependent economy like South Africa.—
Tiisetso Motsoeneng,
semafor.com,
9 Mar. 2026
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Aleph and other Jewish chaplaincy groups say the chaplaincy system is being undermined by the Messianic movement, whose adherents may identify as Jews but are not recognized as such by any denomination of Judaism.—
Asaf Elia-Shalev,
Sun Sentinel,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
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It’s been dried, stripped of bark, sanded to silky smoothness, stained, sealed and painstakingly carved.—
Kathy Gurchiek,
AJC.com,
10 Mar. 2026
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The mascara dries quickly, and there’s no mess or smudging.—
Jacquelyn Smith,
Parents,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Under this model, airlines, hotels, and other end-service providers may benefit, while intermediaries such as ticket booking platforms and price comparison websites may see their roles weakened.—
,
CNBC,
11 Mar. 2026
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This weakens the plant and can cause dieback.—
Steve Bender,
Southern Living,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Officials say a goal of the attacks is to undermine support for Ukraine, spread fear and discord in European societies and drain investigative resources.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
12 Mar. 2026
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If your plant is struggling, adjusting your watering schedule or repotting in fresh, well-draining soil will likely make a bigger difference.—
Jessica Safavimehr,
Southern Living,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Turned out that Self was dehydrated and got AFib (atrial fibrillation) during a brief hospital stay.—
Shreyas Laddha,
Kansas City Star,
10 Mar. 2026
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Peels can be air-dried, dehydrated, or dried in a very low oven until brittle.—
Michelle Mastro,
Martha Stewart,
7 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The filmmaker leans pop-comic rather than petrifying in his final draft, opting for earnestness that smothers atmospheric dread.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
6 Feb. 2026
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The former slingshots between harmony and hysteria; the latter petrifies its beauty under a haze of ashy gray powder.—
Jazz Monroe,
Pitchfork,
28 Nov. 2025
Verb
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As all of these bankruptcy cases illustrate, litigation is one of the most common drivers for association bankruptcies, and much like foreclosures, it should only be considered when all other reasonable options have been exhausted.—
Awilda Esteras,
Miami Herald,
12 Mar. 2026
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Barely a minute or two ticked away at Galen Center last month,but USC freshman Alijah Arenas already was exhausted.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Dampwood termites are found in logs, fence posts, and utility poles; damp wood termites are attracted to firewood piles and water leaks such as from water pipes and AC units.—
Arricca Elin SanSone,
Southern Living,
6 Mar. 2026
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The device could also be used to damp vibrations in aerospace vehicles, ships, and aircraft, and to provide a shield for sensitive military hardware and scientific instruments that are vulnerable to sudden shock.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
5 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Desiccate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/desiccate. Accessed 14 Mar. 2026.
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