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 human heart shrivels away in space, but researchers have found that mini-hearts grown from human stem cells sprout in space significantly faster than in labs on Earth.
—
Tereza Pultarova, Space.com, 3 May 2026
Berries that are shriveled, soft, or visibly mushy are likely past their prime and won’t be appetizing.
—Jillian Kubala, Health, 30 Apr. 2026
Healthy-looking buds shrivel, turn brown at the base, and fall off before opening.
—Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 23 Apr. 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for shrivel
Tereza Pultarova, Space.com, 3 May 2026
Berries that are shriveled, soft, or visibly mushy are likely past their prime and won’t be appetizing.
—Jillian Kubala, Health, 30 Apr. 2026
Healthy-looking buds shrivel, turn brown at the base, and fall off before opening.
—Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 23 Apr. 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for shrivel
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shrivel
Verb
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Most of those gains evaporated in a matter of days.—
Zev Fima,
CNBC,
29 May 2026
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However, persistence becomes problematic when PFAS leach or evaporate out of products and into the surrounding environment.—
Carrie McDonough,
The Conversation,
29 May 2026
Verb
-
Surround the plants with well-draining soil.—
Blythe Copeland,
Martha Stewart,
4 June 2026
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Without the ability to point its solar arrays toward the Sun, the tumbling spacecraft likely drained its batteries within hours.—
Stephen Clark,
ArsTechnica,
4 June 2026
Verb
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This will also allow more sunlight to penetrate through foliage and dry the surface.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
9 June 2026
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After being washed and dried, horsehair is sorted by length and stretched onto a simple wooden frame known as a guanga.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
9 June 2026
Verb
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The Chanel suits, dark glasses, nasal voice and withering judgments became part of the national image.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
6 June 2026
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Months of withering brutal weather gave way to soccer abandon on the turf, as two of Ottawa’s best junior teams clashed in the sunlight.—
Paula Newton,
CNN Money,
6 June 2026
Verb
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That office would completely burn down during the Witch Creek Fire in 2007 when wildfire scorched and devastated 62% of the park.—
Karen Billing,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
9 June 2026
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That fire continued for over two months until November 2020, scorching nearly 23,000 acres and killing one beloved firefighter who was battling the blaze.—
CNN.com Wire Service,
Mercury News,
9 June 2026
Verb
-
After the battle, Picard’s battery supported the push from the Roer River to the Rhine as Germany’s western front collapsed.—
Kevin Maurer,
The Atlantic,
6 June 2026
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The same logic applies when AI collapses the price of services that American workers produce.—
James Broughel,
Forbes.com,
6 June 2026
Verb
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Swathe greens, herbs, and other veggies in damp paper towels to retain moisture levels and keep the produce from wilting.—
Melissa Locker,
Southern Living,
3 June 2026
-
Some of the sport’s biggest stars—including Jannik Sinner, Novak Djokovic, Daniil Medvedev and Ben Shelton—wilted in the searing heat during the first few rounds.—
Eben Novy-Williams,
Sportico.com,
1 June 2026
Verb
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While desirable homes still sell quickly, frenzied bidding wars have faded.—
Sara B. Hansen,
Denver Post,
29 May 2026
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Deadheading Is Another Form Of Pinching Back Deadheading is similar to pinching back, but it is done once the flowers begin to fade.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
28 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shrivel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shrivel. Accessed 10 Jun. 2026.
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