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
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
Their bodies shrivel, and some lose the capacity to feel hunger at all.
—Hana Kiros, The Atlantic, 17 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shrivel
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
Their bodies shrivel, and some lose the capacity to feel hunger at all.
—Hana Kiros, The Atlantic, 17 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shrivel
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shrivel
Verb
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Snow melts too quickly, and reservoirs evaporate too fast.—
Matthew Kayser,
USA Today,
30 June 2025
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When temperatures are high, water also evaporates faster and waters — particularly in shallow coastal areas like Florida Bay and Biscayne Bay — can get too salty, Koch said.—
Ashley Miznazi,
Miami Herald,
30 June 2025
Verb
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The Army Corps’ solution was to take a meandering 103-mile river that snaked through one of the wildest areas in the state, drain it, and carve it into a ruler-straight, 56-mile 30-foot-deep canal dubbed the C-38 — not exactly fodder for the tourism board.—
Bill Kearney,
Sun Sentinel,
29 June 2025
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In such situations, when a client has the resources and the inclination to go round after round, small municipalities have to decide whether to settle or stand on principle, draining their budget.—
Andrew Rice,
Curbed,
26 June 2025
Verb
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From there, use a clean, soft toothbrush to remove any lingering stains and wipe off with a clean cotton cloth to dry and remove any excess oil.—
Lauren Wicks,
Southern Living,
24 June 2025
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Per Archaeology News, conservators soaked it in a desalination bath for ten weeks before cleaning, drying and stabilizing it.—
Sonja Anderson,
Smithsonian Magazine,
23 June 2025
Verb
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The tenuous ceasefire that has halted withering rocket attacks between Iran and Israel appeared to be holding Thursday ahead of talks next week that could lead to a more permanent peace.—
John Bacon,
USA Today,
27 June 2025
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After a few days of forgetting to water a container, the soil can become hard, and the plant begins to wither.—
Rebecca Jones,
Southern Living,
25 June 2025
Verb
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In some parts of the U.S., scorching temperatures send people indoors to the comfort of air conditioning, which makes the virus easier to spread.—
Emilie Le Beau Lucchesi,
Discover Magazine,
26 June 2025
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With scorching temperatures becoming more common across the country (the Old Farmers' Almanac deemed this the hottest and driest summer for the third year in a row), staying cool at home is top of mind for everyone.—
Elizabeth Fogarty,
Better Homes & Gardens,
25 June 2025
Verb
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When stress hit, the house of cards collapsed, and failures cascaded like dominoes, wiping out billions in customer funds.—
Roomy Khan,
Forbes.com,
30 June 2025
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That’s how a building managed to go without a critical earthquake retrofit for more than a century before its brick walls collapsed in 2003.—
Rong-Gong Lin II,
Los Angeles Times,
29 June 2025
Verb
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Go in the morning, because in the heat of the sun, the flowers often wilt.—
Sheryl De Vore,
Chicago Tribune,
23 June 2025
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Its hype, while intoxicating, eventually wilted away with the passing seasons.—
Andre Gee,
Rolling Stone,
23 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 8 Jul. 2025.
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