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
Check monthly for signs of shriveling (add moisture), blackening or softening (discard). — Tim Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 11 July 2026 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
  • The early signs of root rot—yellowing, wilting, and dropping leaves—can fool you into thinking the plant needs more water.
    — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 22 July 2026
  • Intensive feeding can weaken plants and cause stunted growth and wilting.
    — Lauren Landers, The Spruce, 20 July 2026
Definition of wilting
Verb
  • Book review sections are evaporating; NPR has been eviscerated; and social media followings no longer seem to be reliably converting into book sales.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 15 July 2026
  • 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
Definition of evaporating
Noun
  • By the 1960s, the children of those well-to-do travelers had adopted the fabric into their own preppy summer wardrobes, seeing its fading and irregularities as part of the charm.
    — Brett F. Braley-Palko, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026
  • These give the Synactif Daytime Moisturizer texture-smoothing, tone-evening, contour-sculpting, cell-renewing, age-spot-fading, and wrinkle-plumping properties.
    — Tamim Alnuweiri, InStyle, 13 July 2026
Definition of fading
Verb
  • That includes the wound draining fluid, having a foul odor or getting bigger.
    — Sarah Tomlinson, The Conversation, 24 July 2026
  • How To Care For Onions In Pots Onions prefer well-draining, loamy, and slightly acidic to neutral soil, such as potting soil with compost mixed in.
    — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 22 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 of breathable, quick-drying fabric that helps wick away moisture, the relaxed silhouette helps promote airflow while still looking polished.
    — Better Homes & Gardens, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 July 2026
  • Using lightweight technical yarns and relaxed silhouettes, the pieces are intended to be quick-drying and adaptable enough to work from everyday errands to formal events, in line with Silberstein’s overall ethos.
    — Rhonda Richford, Footwear News, 20 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
  • In the seventh minute, Sonnett sprinted to challenge Pietra Tordin for the ball and seemed to make little contact before collapsing to the turf.
    — Asli Pelit, New York Times, 25 July 2026
  • However, the industry recently faced a significant shakeout, with many firms collapsing amid platform crackdowns.
    — Boaz Sobrado, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026
Definition of collapsing

Browse Nearby Words

shriveled
shriveling
shrivels
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Cite this Entry

“Shriveling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shriveling. Accessed 26 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on shriveling

Nglish: Translation of shriveling for Spanish Speakers

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