desiccates

verb

present tense third-person singular of desiccate
1
as in undermines
to deprive of emotional or intellectual vitality that historian's dryasdust prose desiccates what is actually an exciting period in European history

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in dries
to make dry add a cup of desiccated coconut to the mix

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for desiccates
  1. undermines
  2. dries
  3. weakens
  4. drains
  5. petrifies
  6. exhausts
  7. dehydrates
  8. wears
Verb
  • Najmi’s dual role as a lawyer practicing before city judges and as chair of the screening committee creates at least the appearance of a conflict of interest that undermines the very purpose of the committee’s existence.
    — Christian Browne, New York Daily News, 18 July 2026
  • Reducing legitimate scientific disagreement to accusations of prejudice undermines that effort.
    — Torie Bosch, STAT, 18 July 2026
Definition of undermines
Verb
  • Airflow heats the barrel, and dries the hair while curling it in a process that uses 40 percent less energy than hair-dryer and brush methods.
    — Samantha Conti, Footwear News, 9 July 2026
  • Notably, like my favorite Make Beauty skin tint, the concealer is super moisturizing, and dries down to look like an extension of my skin rather than settling into fine lines with a papery, flaky finish.
    — Irene Richardson, InStyle, 1 July 2026
Definition of dries
Verb
  • That weakens the case for mediation as protection without producing a replacement, which is why Qatar will keep it rather than trade it.
    — Güney Yıldız, Forbes.com, 18 July 2026
  • As the rest of the world buys its assets, the reserve currency is structurally overvalued and weakens competitiveness.
    — Philipp Carlsson-Szlezak, Fortune, 17 July 2026
Definition of weakens
Verb
  • But pushing through outdoor events in 90+-degree weather drains cognitive reserves rather than replenishing them.
    — Nicole F. Roberts, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026
  • Nutrient leaching when water drains out of containers and baskets adds to the problem.
    — Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 July 2026
Definition of drains
Verb
  • 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
Definition of petrifies
Verb
  • Watching this scene, and much of the film, exhausts me.
    — Jenny Odell, Longreads, 2 June 2026
  • If the search for a large outdoor planter exhausts you—just get a terra-cotta planter.
    — Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 6 Apr. 2026
Definition of exhausts
Verb
  • Alcohol worsens sleep quality and dehydrates the body, while caffeine has a diuretic effect that encourages fluid loss and can raise body temperature.
    — Hanna Wickes, Sacbee.com, 1 July 2026
  • Pest Control Baking soda acts as a barrier that dehydrates slugs, causes ants to lose their scent trail, and keeps aphids away.
    — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 30 May 2026
Definition of dehydrates
Verb
  • In the image, Camilla wears a bright blue dress and a diamond and sapphire butterfly brooch, which was presented to the late Queen Elizabeth II in 1977.
    — Jennifer Hassan, USA Today, 17 July 2026
  • The custodian of this jewel is Amrit Maan, the fourth-generation owner of The Punjab and a man who wears more hats than any one human should reasonably be expected to.
    — Afdhel Aziz, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026
Definition of wears
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.

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Cite this Entry

“Desiccates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/desiccates. Accessed 24 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on desiccates

Nglish: Translation of desiccates for Spanish Speakers

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