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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Recent Examples of shrivel
The financial and consulting sector mushroomed while manufacturing employment shriveled.
—
David Brooks, The Mercury News, 9 Nov. 2024
If it is infected later, those plants produce diseased kernels that are shriveled and wilted.
—Rebekah Riess, CNN Money, 4 June 2025
Gas taxes are hiked to account for a shriveling base, but not every region within a state is equally left in the same internal combustion past.
—Andrew Leahey, Forbes, 25 Mar. 2025
When Kent Denver’s lead shriveled to 68-63 with 2:34 remaining, Schayes turned panic into purpose, calming the players and his assistants.
—Troy Renck, The Denver Post, 13 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shrivel
David Brooks, The Mercury News, 9 Nov. 2024
If it is infected later, those plants produce diseased kernels that are shriveled and wilted.
—Rebekah Riess, CNN Money, 4 June 2025
Gas taxes are hiked to account for a shriveling base, but not every region within a state is equally left in the same internal combustion past.
—Andrew Leahey, Forbes, 25 Mar. 2025
When Kent Denver’s lead shriveled to 68-63 with 2:34 remaining, Schayes turned panic into purpose, calming the players and his assistants.
—Troy Renck, The Denver Post, 13 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shrivel
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shrivel
Verb
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That wet phase of Martian history was billions of years ago, however, and all that water has since evaporated away into space or seeped deep underground.—
Phil Plait,
Scientific American,
10 July 2025
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While some of yesterday’s deals have evaporated or sold out, Wednesday is bringing a fresh slate of finds.—
Jake Henry Smith,
Glamour,
9 July 2025
Verb
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Doubling down on something that isn’t aligned with your current strengths can drain leadership focus, capital and momentum.—
James Barlow,
Forbes.com,
10 July 2025
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The city avoided building a water filtration plant, which would have lost more than $8 billion, by investing $1.5 billion into forests surrounding New York City's Catskill, Delaware, and Croton reservoirs that drain into their water supply systems.—
Jordan King,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 July 2025
Verb
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Once the cycle is complete, dry the load on low to medium heat.—
Patricia Shannon,
Southern Living,
6 July 2025
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There were several safety cars during the race, along with changing conditions with periods of intense rain followed by a drying track.—
Nelson Espinal,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 July 2025
Verb
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So why do people like Winfrey, Disney, Cuban and Schumacher flourish after setbacks while others wither?—
Dr. Angélica S. Gutiérrez,
Forbes.com,
10 July 2025
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As football in the south bloomed, at the other end of the country Wrexham were withering away in the non-League.—
Richard Sutcliffe,
New York Times,
9 July 2025
Verb
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Lessons learned from wildfires that scorched local canyon communities in the recent past — the Coastal fire, the Aliso fire and the Bond fire — were pulled in and law enforcement personnel from Pasadena spoke about their experiences in the Eaton fire in January.—
Erika I. Ritchie,
Oc Register,
10 July 2025
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That ridge is currently parked over Arizona, acting like a giant atmospheric lid creating scorching daytime temperatures and warm nights beneath.—
Hayleigh Evans,
AZCentral.com,
9 July 2025
Verb
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Together, they’re poised to do something far more radical: collapse the traditional SaaS model and usher in a new era of decentralized, intelligent orchestration.—
Deepinder Singh Sethi,
Forbes.com,
14 July 2025
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In handcuffs, Miyake collapsed momentarily outside.—
Meredith Colias-Pete,
Chicago Tribune,
14 July 2025
Verb
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When other plants wilt in the sun, rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus) thrives in it.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
2 July 2025
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The white lilies placed at the memorial hadn’t even started wilting yet when the firebombing in Boulder began.—
Chelsea Bailey,
CNN Money,
3 June 2025
Verb
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Sunscreen, chlorine, saltwater, and even rough drying habits can wear down the fabric, leaving colors faded and suits stretched out.—
Gabi De la Rosa,
Southern Living,
5 July 2025
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The spark seemed to fade, then the extra effort went AWOL.—
Jodie Cook,
Forbes.com,
4 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Shrivel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shrivel. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
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