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

Relevance

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 Her flesh is desiccated and gray, her hands and feet are jagged claws, and her breath comes out in rasps. — Alison Willmore, Vulture, 17 Apr. 2026 Klosterman wondered if the recent heatwave would desiccate them. — Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 26 Mar. 2026 Mahdi and Khadija had been struck by drought, and their bed was dry and desiccated, waterless down to its depths. — Literary Hub, 12 Mar. 2026 Dried or desiccated coconut flakes can be replaced with fresh coconut meat, or omit. — The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Mar. 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
  • But the party’s past debates over crime and safety threaten to undermine that pitch.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 31 July 2026
  • Future plots to imprison a critic of the MAGA movement might not be undermined by a loudmouth president who can’t help but give away the scheme.
    — Jonathan Chait, The Atlantic, 30 July 2026
Definition of undermine
Verb
  • The right specialist, sitting at the table before the ink dried.
    — Lien De Pau, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026
  • This chocolate brown tea towel will instantly transform your drying rack or oven into a cozy fall corner, ready for whipping up your favorite autumn recipes.
    — Sophia Beams, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 July 2026
Definition of dry
Verb
  • The storm was expected to strengthen further before weakening by midweek.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 26 July 2026
  • While developing Se-jeong, Yeon envisioned a character who was an outcast but not someone weakened by isolation.
    — Rachael Jung, Variety, 26 July 2026
Definition of weaken
Verb
  • Adjust the plan, automate one small savings move, and choose generosity that does not drain you.
    — Tarot.com, Chicago Tribune, 26 July 2026
  • Choose the step that strengthens your confidence instead of draining it.
    — Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 26 July 2026
Definition of drain
Verb
  • The medical examiner ruled the boy died by homicide, noting he was malnourished and dehydrated.
    — Alice Gainer, CBS News, 30 July 2026
  • In the new cover story, Shania shares that she was dehydrated and undernourished from not eating enough protein and lacking key nutrients.
    — Maggie Ryan, Flow Space, 30 July 2026
Definition of dehydrate
Verb
  • 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
  • Johansson plays her with a tough edge to match her Queens accent, but Hester is clearly petrified by this perfect storm of ugly events.
    — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 16 May 2026
Definition of petrify
Verb
  • Leaders who continually forge themselves become harder to exhaust, unsettle, or outmaneuver.
    — Julian Hayes II, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026
  • After graduating with a degree in business economics, Pichardo learned that NCAA athletes can compete in a different sport after exhausting their initial four years of eligibility.
    — Marisa Ingemi, Mercury News, 27 July 2026
Definition of exhaust
Verb
  • The system operates by altering the magnetic field to adjust fluid viscosity inside the dampers, continuously modifying compression and rebound damping.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 25 July 2026
  • Despite an active El Niño, experts say the Southwestern United States likely won’t feel its damping effect until next year.
    — Noah Haggerty, Los Angeles Times, 22 July 2026
Definition of damp

Browse Nearby Words

desexing
desiccate
desiccated
See all Nearby Words

Podcast

Theme music by Joshua Stamper ©2006 New Jerusalem Music/ASCAP

Cite this Entry

“Desiccate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/desiccate. Accessed 2 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on desiccate

Nglish: Translation of desiccate for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

Why does English have so many silent letters?

Your vs. You're: How to Use Them Correctly
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Dutch Treat and French Leave: Eight Place-Based Compounds

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

The Words of the Week - Jul. 31

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)
See More

Popular

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Dutch Treat and French Leave: Eight Place-Based Compounds

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
asap street sign
Figure Out These Acronyms ASAP You don't have to be a NASA engineer to get these...
See All