as in to evaporate
to become small and wrinkly usually as a result of dehydration
Without irrigation, these plants would shrivel (up) and die.
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of shrivel
Sales of photography, moving-image work, sculpture, and most conceptual work have shriveled up, except at the very highest levels.
—
Alex Greenberger, ARTnews.com, 6 Apr. 2026
Desert wildflowers shriveled up early this year due to the historic heat wave, leading to a lackluster sightseeing season and fewer visitors at some state parks.
—Ray Stern, AZCentral.com, 27 Mar. 2026
And then emergency snacks for my kid, often shriveled up raisins all over the bottom of the bag.
—Jessica Radloff, Glamour, 23 Mar. 2026
The Great Salt Lake has been shriveling up for decades.
—Evan Bush, NBC news, 7 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for shrivel
Alex Greenberger, ARTnews.com, 6 Apr. 2026
Desert wildflowers shriveled up early this year due to the historic heat wave, leading to a lackluster sightseeing season and fewer visitors at some state parks.
—Ray Stern, AZCentral.com, 27 Mar. 2026
And then emergency snacks for my kid, often shriveled up raisins all over the bottom of the bag.
—Jessica Radloff, Glamour, 23 Mar. 2026
The Great Salt Lake has been shriveling up for decades.
—Evan Bush, NBC news, 7 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for shrivel
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shrivel
Verb
-
The traditional distance between fashion inspiration and the final transaction has evaporated.—
Arthur Zaczkiewicz,
Footwear News,
15 May 2026
-
Uncover, increase heat to medium, and cook until excess liquid is evaporated, 2 to 3 minutes.—
Jed Portman,
Midwest Living,
15 May 2026
Verb
-
Mitchell did not miss a shot in the quarter, draining all three of her 3-point tries as well as a step-back jumper.—
John Davis,
Daily News,
14 May 2026
-
Even with so many suspects, Janet's brother, Francesco Caltieri, remembers hope draining away in his family's household.—
Peter Van Sant,
CBS News,
14 May 2026
Verb
-
These cleaning pals can often be thrown in the washer and hung out to dry.—
Jessica Safavimehr,
Southern Living,
12 May 2026
-
Ana dried her hands on a dishtowel.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
12 May 2026
Verb
-
What becomes clear is that Yesteryear is not actually the withering critique of faux-trad influencers it’s been marketed as.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
14 May 2026
-
The ask withered under criticism from legislative leaders in both parties.—
Frederick Melo,
Twin Cities,
14 May 2026
Verb
-
All that matters at this reservation-only pizzeria is the crust, a technical marvel of puff, bulge and scorch.—
Ligaya Mishan,
New York Times,
11 May 2026
-
Officials said the fire has scorched at least 5,000 acres as of Monday morning.—
Sergio Candido,
CBS News,
11 May 2026
Verb
-
The weekend, for all its promise, tends to collapse into logistics, half-finished to-do lists and the quiet companionship of two people watching the same screen.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
16 May 2026
-
Intellectual humility — the willingness to update your beliefs when the machine pushes back, rather than digging in or collapsing entirely.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
16 May 2026
Verb
-
The sometimes rough-and-tumble process of transplanting from one pot and growing location to another can cause some plants to wilt.—
Megan Hughes,
Better Homes & Gardens,
16 May 2026
-
Signs of Underwatering If cucumber plants are underwatered, the leaves will appear wilted and may have crispy, curled margins.—
Madeline Buiano,
Martha Stewart,
12 May 2026
Verb
-
In terms of where to beach, wide stretches of sand in Beach Haven remain some of the Jersey Shore’s most desirable, drawing surfers at sunrise, families hauling coolers and striped umbrellas by midday, and sunset walkers lingering until the sky fades pink over the dunes.—
Jessica Chapel,
Condé Nast Traveler,
15 May 2026
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Inside, customers collect passport stamps, browse racks of worn leather and faded denim and line up for limited-edition tote bags tied to the second annual Vintage Store Day.—
Alexandra Harrell,
Footwear News,
15 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shrivel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shrivel. Accessed 18 May. 2026.
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