shriveled 1 of 2

variants or shrivelled

shriveled

2 of 2

verb

variants or shrivelled
past tense of shrivel

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 shriveled
Adjective
This shrivelled existence was meant to have ended with a change of direction which was officially ratified by the Premier League in December 2024. George Caulkin, New York Times, 7 Sep. 2026 During the final few minutes of cooking, check the corn frequently—even an extra minute or two can make the difference between juicy, tender kernels and dry, shriveled ones. Olivia McIntosh, Martha Stewart, 4 Aug. 2026 Papayas that are mostly green are not ripe, while those with many soft spots or darker, shriveled skin are overripe or spoiled. Sherri Gordon, Health, 2 Aug. 2026 Pests Yellowing or shriveled leaves and stunted growth can also be signs of pests. Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 29 June 2026 New stems can become shriveled and fall off the plant, and whole segments might drop if the plant struggles with depleted soil and a too-small pot. Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Dec. 2025
Verb
As sprouting progresses, the sweet potato may become softer, shriveled, or less flavorful. Lynn Andriani, Martha Stewart, 4 Sep. 2026 Wild pheasants use it all, and after late November they’ll be concentrated in the heavy cover because crop fields are gleaned and frost will have shriveled a lot of vegetation. Ron Spomer, Outdoor Life, 19 Aug. 2026 For decades, so much water has been taken that the river seldom meets the sea in Mexico, and its delta, once filled with lush wetlands and forests, has shriveled to stretches of dry riverbed. Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 21 July 2026 Avoid berries that are soft or appear mushy or shriveled as these are indications that the fruit is past its prime. Stacey Lastoe, Southern Living, 14 July 2026 The skin split, the ends were shriveled, and the texture was limp. Dianna Douglas, NPR, 28 June 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 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shriveled
Adjective
  • Firefighters struggled to contain the initial outbreak, and strong winds, allied to the withered land, saw the flames quickly spread.
    Chris Marshall-Bell, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2026
  • The neural wiring of the obese mouse, on the right, withered.
    Cynthia Zarin, Harpers Magazine, 28 July 2026
Verb
  • Over and over, my father rinsed the rice, drained the water, then filled the pot again.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 17 Sep. 2026
  • If numbers don’t lie…are Hollywood and the streaming platforms actually beginning to release the stale notion that middle-aged and older women are drained of their creative juices after menopause?
    Valerie Monroe, Allure, 15 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • Few signs of humanity interrupted the rocky shoreline — just a couple of cabins and the wooden railings of a path leading to a wizened cedar tree revered by the tribe.
    Michael Hawthorne, Chicago Tribune, 23 Aug. 2026
  • His wizened next-door neighbors (Mary Woodvine and Adrian Rawlins) are younger, mistaking him for their son Luke, a former crew member of the Rose of Nevada who died by suicide.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 19 June 2026
Verb
  • The University of Wisconsin-Madison Extension similarly recommends harvesting when the seeds become light brown and the plant has dried, typically about two to three weeks after flowering.
    Rachel Gillett, Martha Stewart, 15 Sep. 2026
  • There’s no smoky cast to the Virginia Distillery’s whiskey, for unlike that of the famed makers on Scotland’s Islay island, its malted barley is not dried over peat fires.
    Robert F. Moss, Southern Living, 13 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • Apple was widely criticized in the late 2000s for not volunteering more information about Jobs’ health, especially as concerns about his gaunt appearance battered the company’s shares.
    Allison Morrow, CNN Money, 2 Sep. 2026
  • As her pregnancy progressed, Kabita’s belly swelled while the rest of her remained gaunt.
    ABC News, ABC News, 13 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • In the wake of the 2023 Hollywood strikes, verticals became a lifeline for cast and crew as traditional jobs evaporated.
    Katie Kilkenny, HollywoodReporter, 10 Sep. 2026
  • Alcaraz’s status as reigning champion evaporated into the sky.
    James Hansen, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • In 2019 another blaze there, also dubbed the Getty Fire, scorched more than 700 acres.
    Tom Tapp, Deadline, 9 Sep. 2026
  • Sudan’s civil war turned its national museum into a battlefield and crime scene, with ancient statues shattered, skeletal remains scorched and vaults of gold looted.
    Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 8 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • The machinery that collapsed was a drill rig, which was boring holes for the pilings to support the weight of the supertall skyscraper that will go up on the site.
    Catherine Odom, Miami Herald, 15 Sep. 2026
  • The trip puts him back on the European stage as relations with Washington reel from tariffs, threats and personal attacks since trade talks collapsed.
    Rob Gillies, Los Angeles Times, 15 Sep. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Shriveled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shriveled. Accessed 21 Sep. 2026.

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