shriveling 1 of 2

noun

variants or shrivelling
as in wilting

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shriveling

2 of 2

verb

variants or shrivelling
present participle of shrivel
as in evaporating
to become small and wrinkly usually as a result of dehydration Without irrigation, these plants would shrivel (up) and die.

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Dissimilar Words

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 shriveling
Noun
Unsettling events like these are taking place in the context of climate warming that’s occurring at nearly four times the rate of the global average, and resulting long-term shriveling of the Arctic’s floating lid of sea ice. — Tom Yulsman, Time, 23 Feb. 2026 Wrinkling, shriveling, spines falling off, discoloration, and drooping are all signs of underwatering. — Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Feb. 2026 And with the shriveling of Kate Spade (and excluding Stuart Weitzman, which Tapestry recently unloaded), Coach represents nearly 80% of Tapestry sales. — Phil Wahba, Fortune, 14 Aug. 2025
Verb
Store limes in your fridge’s crisper drawer, which has a lower humidity level that keeps the skins from shriveling. — Kait Hanson, Southern Living, 8 Mar. 2026 The Great Salt Lake has been shriveling up for decades. — Evan Bush, NBC news, 7 Mar. 2026 Winter The goal in winter is to water cacti just enough to prevent them from shriveling and wrinkling. — Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Feb. 2026 Concern is also growing over how salaries have lagged behind inflation, shriveling in value and squeezing household budgets. — Isabel Debre, Fortune, 11 Feb. 2026 The industry has been shriveling for years. — Seth Yudof, Rolling Stone, 20 Nov. 2025 Weather extremes are shrivelling harvests on India's tea plantations, endangering the future of an industry famed for beverages as refreshing as Assam and Darjeeling, while reshaping a global trade estimated at more than $10 billion a year. — Tora Agarwala, Reuters, 29 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shriveling
  1. wilting
  2. evaporating
  3. fading
  4. draining
  5. waning
  6. drying
  7. declining
  8. collapsing
Noun
  • Snip the entire stalk, not just the flower head, of individual wilting or dying flowers down to the node so the plant will send out new blooms.
    — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 30 June 2026
  • Forgetting to water certain plants can cause wilting, dormancy, or even prevent blooms from returning.
    — Tessa Cooper, The Spruce, 21 June 2026
Definition of wilting
Verb
  • This means more of the sun's energy goes into evaporating plant and soil moisture as opposed to causing the temperature to rise.
    — Trey Fulbright, CBS News, 1 July 2026
  • Sweat itself does not cool the body down, but the process of it evaporating off of the skin and turning into water vapour essentially transports heat away from the body and into the air.
    — Victoria Forster, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026
Definition of evaporating
Noun
  • Moreover, washing certain fabrics in hot water can do more harm than good, leading to shrinking, fading, texture changes, and other types of damage.
    — Jamie Cuccinelli, Martha Stewart, 4 July 2026
  • Resistant to water, fading, and the strong summer sun, the durable fabric feels soft to the touch while holding up to the elements.
    — Caley Sturgill, Southern Living, 3 July 2026
Definition of fading
Verb
  • But if the drain line is clogged or the drain pan is not tilted appropriately, then this could prevent the moisture from draining away.
    — Timothy Dale, The Spruce, 10 July 2026
  • Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, whose agency oversees the National Park Service, told conservative podcaster Katie Miller in an interview released earlier this week that the new round of draining was planned.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 10 July 2026
Definition of draining
Noun
  • But Wells points out that in addition to the natural waning of the virus, other public health measures, such as vaccination and isolation, are instrumental in stopping its spread.
    — Lauren J. Young, Scientific American, 21 Aug. 2025
Definition of waning
Verb
  • Made from a quick-drying, breathable nylon fabric, these pants wick away sweat on a stuffy airplane or long hike.
    — Caroline Hughes, Travel + Leisure, 8 July 2026
  • The toxins in the fungi, called amatoxins, cannot be removed by boiling, cooking or drying the mushrooms, and can result in liver failure and death if consumed.
    — Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 8 July 2026
Definition of drying
Noun
  • Reports showing inflation and unemployment declining have subsequently been released, and a nominee for the Federal Reserve chairman role has since been announced.
    — Matt Richardson, CBS News, 26 Feb. 2026
Definition of declining
Verb
  • The camaraderie was evident on the ground here in La Guaira, the coastal city where quake damage was most severe, collapsing dozens of buildings.
    — Mery Mogollón, Los Angeles Times, 5 July 2026
  • Unlike straw or lower-grade wool blends, beaver felt can be reworked without collapsing its structure, which is what allows hats to be reshaped by hand rather than stamped out of a mold.
    — Jessica Chapel, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 July 2026
Definition of collapsing

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Cite this Entry

“Shriveling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shriveling. Accessed 11 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on shriveling

Nglish: Translation of shriveling for Spanish Speakers

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