variants
or shrivelled
as in withered
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
variants
or shrivelled
as in drained
to become small and wrinkly usually as a result of dehydration
Without irrigation, these plants would shrivel (up) and die.
Related Words
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 shriveled
Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 16 Feb. 2026
To avoid finding shriveled potatoes in your pantry, start with fresh, firm potatoes.
—Lauren David, Southern Living, 15 Feb. 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
Lighter pieces that look shriveled signals that the ginger root has lost most of its moisture from sitting in storage or on the shelf too long.
—Jillian Kubala, Health, 11 Dec. 2025
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
And then emergency snacks for my kid, often shriveled up raisins all over the bottom of the bag.
—Jessica Radloff, Glamour, 23 Mar. 2026
Pour the berries onto a plate or tray, and carefully remove any that are shriveled, moldy, or mushy, along with any stems or leaves.
—Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 25 Feb. 2026
After the blooms on your moth orchid (Phalaenopsis) have shriveled and fallen off the plant, you're left with a long, bare green stem (technically called a spike).
—Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 Feb. 2026
Many plants look shriveled up and dead, but are actually just conserving water and energy during the cold winter months.
—Ashley Chalmers, The Spruce, 11 Feb. 2026
In earlier work, Rosenblatt’s team watched as some cells dumped their water and shriveled up like raisins before being extruded; indeed, this shrinkage seemed to kick off the process.
—Elise Cutts, Quanta Magazine, 12 Jan. 2026
Even if a single berry is moldy, leaky, or shriveled, this could mean the berries are not fresh or juicy at all, says Hall.
—Kirsten Nunez, Martha Stewart, 31 Dec. 2025
Adjective
Properly watering succulents keeps them healthy and prevents problems like root rot and shriveled leaves.
—Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 16 Feb. 2026
To avoid finding shriveled potatoes in your pantry, start with fresh, firm potatoes.
—Lauren David, Southern Living, 15 Feb. 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
Lighter pieces that look shriveled signals that the ginger root has lost most of its moisture from sitting in storage or on the shelf too long.
—Jillian Kubala, Health, 11 Dec. 2025
Verb
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
And then emergency snacks for my kid, often shriveled up raisins all over the bottom of the bag.
—Jessica Radloff, Glamour, 23 Mar. 2026
Pour the berries onto a plate or tray, and carefully remove any that are shriveled, moldy, or mushy, along with any stems or leaves.
—Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 25 Feb. 2026
After the blooms on your moth orchid (Phalaenopsis) have shriveled and fallen off the plant, you're left with a long, bare green stem (technically called a spike).
—Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 Feb. 2026
Many plants look shriveled up and dead, but are actually just conserving water and energy during the cold winter months.
—Ashley Chalmers, The Spruce, 11 Feb. 2026
In earlier work, Rosenblatt’s team watched as some cells dumped their water and shriveled up like raisins before being extruded; indeed, this shrinkage seemed to kick off the process.
—Elise Cutts, Quanta Magazine, 12 Jan. 2026
Even if a single berry is moldy, leaky, or shriveled, this could mean the berries are not fresh or juicy at all, says Hall.
—Kirsten Nunez, Martha Stewart, 31 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shriveled
Adjective
-
Heaps of last summer’s grassy sedge lay withered around us.—
Quanta Magazine,
Quanta Magazine,
6 Apr. 2026
-
Soft winds threaten to blow the withered flowers away.—
Celina Tebor,
CNN Money,
19 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Jaylin Williams plowed through a screening Murray as Jokic drained a triple, enabling the Nuggets to tie it with a fortuitous 4-point play.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
12 Apr. 2026
-
But what happens when that colorful explosion leaves stains long after the water has drained?—
Caroline Lubinsky,
Martha Stewart,
10 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
In front of the butcher’s near where the painter lives, a vendor, wizened and bent, sets up shop.—
Amir Ahmadi Arian,
The Dial,
15 Jan. 2026
-
But more alarming than the ways in which this physical space could turn against us was the simple metaphor of a wizened little man pulling a boat down a river in the dark.—
Ann Patchett,
New Yorker,
29 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
This bright take on the deli counter staple has dried cranberries, celery, and sweet pickle relish for a filling and flavorful dish.—
Amanda Favazza,
Southern Living,
15 Apr. 2026
-
The color is rich and dark, as is the flavor with notes of ripe and dried fruit, dark chocolate, roasted espresso beans, raisin, fig, cherry cola, peaches, menthol, and blood orange.—
Jonah Flicker,
Robb Report,
15 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
In the courtroom, Alfortish’s face looked gaunt after spending roughly a year in prison, and his hair, thinning now, had gone white.—
Patrick Radden Keefe,
New Yorker,
13 Apr. 2026
-
We’re introduced to its uncanny backdrop through the eyes of protagonist Heinrich, or Hein (Paul Boche), a gaunt young man who returns by boat after 14 years away.—
Siddhant Adlakha,
Variety,
12 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Rose had a two-shot lead that evaporated around Amen Corner with two bogeys and a three-putt par.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
12 Apr. 2026
-
Add bourbon, and cook, stirring constantly, until almost completely evaporated, 30 seconds to 1 minute.—
Kimberly Holland,
Southern Living,
12 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
By early April, 240 wildfires had already scorched Wyoming’s plains.—
Christine Peterson,
Outdoor Life,
15 Apr. 2026
-
In the hours after splashdown, space wonks noticed a large, unusual-looking white patch on the otherwise dark and scorched heat shield.—
Denise Chow,
NBC news,
14 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Ten shots rang out, and Garrison collapsed on the floor, dead.—
Patrick Radden Keefe,
New Yorker,
13 Apr. 2026
-
The bodies of two workers trapped when a stairwell roof collapsed at a parking garage under construction in Philadelphia have been found, authorities announced Monday morning.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
13 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shriveled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shriveled. Accessed 18 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
