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
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
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 Remove sprouts and avoid potatoes that are soft, shriveled, green, or have long sprouts to stay safe. Melissa Kravitz Hoeffner, Martha Stewart, 19 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
  • The neural wiring of the obese mouse, on the right, withered.
    Cynthia Zarin, Harpers Magazine, 28 July 2026
  • These misshapen and withered figurines—a teddy bear with a candle and a turkey in pointed shoes—looked over at the photos from low plinths in one corner of the gallery.
    Theo Belci, Artforum, 2 June 2026
Verb
  • Two lawyers can work identical hours in the same organization and experience their jobs in fundamentally different ways — one drained by constant conflict, another by lack of autonomy, another by isolation.
    Malana VanTyler, USA Today, 26 Aug. 2026
  • The song is a lesson about the importance of empathy drained of the feel-good reassurance that might let the listener off the hook.
    Mikael Wood, Los Angeles Times, 26 Aug. 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
  • Fruit from the cacao tree contains beans that, when dried and roasted, produce chocolate in all its glorious forms.
    ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Users usually chew it for an effect similar to amphetamines, or it is dried and boiled to create a stimulant tea.
    Sara Tenenbaum, CBS News, 25 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • As her pregnancy progressed, Kabita’s belly swelled while the rest of her remained gaunt.
    ABC News, ABC News, 13 Aug. 2026
  • On the first day of the hearing, July 22, Salah Sarsour's brother, Mohammad Sarsour, testified that his brother appeared gaunt and dirty and complained of pain and inadequate medical care during his detention in an Israeli jail.
    CBS News, CBS News, 5 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • With Bhumjaithai in control of both the internal levers of power and parliament, the prospects for progressive constitutional reform evaporated.
    Duncan McCargo, Foreign Affairs, 24 Aug. 2026
  • The Treasury Department intervened midweek to help, but, by Friday, the relief had evaporated.
    CBS News, CBS News, 23 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Assassinations, race riots, and Watergate had scorched the nation’s conscience.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Rémi Lecoutre, deputy head gardener at the Claude Monet House and Gardens museum, gave France 24 a tour, which revealed the nasturtiums to be completely wiped out; many other flowers appeared scorched or dead.
    News Desk, Artforum, 20 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • American officials rebutted Carney’s account of why the talks collapsed.
    Steve Kopack, NBC news, 25 Aug. 2026
  • His announcement came after trade talks collapsed between the two countries and each began calling for higher tariffs.
    Bart Jansen, USA Today, 25 Aug. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Shriveled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shriveled. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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