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desiccate

verb

ˈde-si-ˌkāt How to pronounce desiccate (audio)
Definition of desiccatenext
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of desiccate By desiccating vegetation, the drought has already fueled severe wildfires, with 116,000 hectares burned in Spain and 42,000 hectares burned in France, according to the WWA report. — Sanidhya Sharma, Scientific American, 24 July 2026 Olive trees, desiccated from the Xylella fastidiosa bacterial epidemic, are consumed by fire and slump to the ground in a burnished black heap. — Angelica Calabrese, Longreads, 7 July 2026 Another advantage of long and narrow leaves is their ability to withstand heavy rainfall and battering or desiccating winds. — Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 4 June 2026 First, the wood pieces are desiccated at a relatively low temperature — just above the boiling temperature of water — then squeezed into slabs. — Shi En Kim, AZCentral.com, 15 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for desiccate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for desiccate
  1. undermine
  2. dry
  3. weaken
  4. drain
  5. dehydrate
  6. petrify
  7. exhaust
  8. damp
Verb
  • Seeking to deliberately undermine, delegitimize and destroy is not Madisonian.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 23 Sep. 2026
  • The strike has undermined the junta’s ability to provide public services.
    — Andrew Nachemson, The Dial, 22 Sep. 2026
Definition of undermine
Verb
  • There’s also a tack room, where riding equipment is stored, along with spaces for feeding, washing, and drying horses.
    — Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 23 Sep. 2026
  • The sheets are pressed to remove water and allowed to dry naturally.
    — Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of dry
Verb
  • People familiar with the deliberations said lawmakers worried the requirements would raise drug prices and weaken national security by revealing the precise locations where lifesaving medications are made.
    — Naisha Roy, ProPublica, 18 Sep. 2026
  • Macron warned that the attacks would not go unanswered and accused Moscow of trying to intimidate Europeans into weakening their support for Ukraine.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of weaken
Verb
  • Detectives drained three dams, searched six mineshafts and sent up drones with specialized cameras to take detailed imagery, later analyzed with artificial intelligence.
    — Hilary Whiteman, CNN Money, 20 Sep. 2026
  • The book leans on research about decision fatigue—the idea that even trivial choices drain the mental capacity available for harder ones—to argue that the sheer volume of daily inputs, not just their content, has a cost.
    — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 20 Sep. 2026
Definition of drain
Verb
  • Antihistamines have a general dehydrating effect that also reduces tear production.
    — Nancy LeBrun, Verywell Health, 24 Sep. 2026
  • So before your fast begins, aim to stay hydrated to prevent getting dehydrated while fasting.
    — Reed Berger-Fleishman, The Conversation, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of dehydrate
Verb
  • Here, a source of primordial terror—the gaze that petrifies—is deflected by way of the highly polished shield that Perseus wields against the creature.
    — Jan Tumlir, Artforum, 5 Aug. 2026
  • The first film follows a group of French high-school students who travel to Naples on a school trip to discover the ruins of Pompeii and the bodies petrified by Vesuvius.
    — Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 20 May 2026
Definition of petrify
Verb
  • The wars in Ukraine and the Middle East have become grinding contests over which side can exhaust the other’s military capacity, economic resources, and political will.
    — NADIA SCHADLOW, Foreign Affairs, 18 Sep. 2026
  • This change responds to the numerous college athlete-plaintiffs who have exhausted their NCAA eligibility, but who seek to continue playing or return to competition.
    — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of exhaust
Verb
  • At the rear is a triple-adjustable shock with preload, high- and low-speed compression and rebound damping.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 16 Sep. 2026
  • Vacuum first, then damp mop with a pH-neutral cleaner and clean water.
    — Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 12 Sep. 2026
Definition of damp

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desexing
desiccate
desiccated
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Cite this Entry

“Desiccate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/desiccate. Accessed 25 Sep. 2026.

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