variants
or shrivelled
as in withered
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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.
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Dissimilar Words
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Recent Examples of shriveled
Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 2 June 2026
Properly watering succulents keeps them healthy and prevents problems like root rot and shriveled leaves.
—Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 16 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
Sj McShane, Martha Stewart, 24 May 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
Water ornamental purslane when the soil has dried out or the leaves look shriveled.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 29 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
And then emergency snacks for my kid, often shriveled up raisins all over the bottom of the bag.
—Jessica Radloff, Glamour, 23 Mar. 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
Adjective
Signs of a ripe watermelon include a yellow ground spot, dull color, and a brown, shriveled stem.
—Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 2 June 2026
Properly watering succulents keeps them healthy and prevents problems like root rot and shriveled leaves.
—Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 16 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
Next, look for any dead tissue, which may appear brown, dry, or shriveled.
—Sj McShane, Martha Stewart, 24 May 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
Water ornamental purslane when the soil has dried out or the leaves look shriveled.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 29 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
And then emergency snacks for my kid, often shriveled up raisins all over the bottom of the bag.
—Jessica Radloff, Glamour, 23 Mar. 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shriveled
Adjective
-
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
-
Some oak trees retain their brown, withered leaves over winter, which paints a pretty picture when seen against a backdrop of white snow.—
Luke Miller,
Better Homes & Gardens,
11 May 2026
Verb
-
Tied with Charley Hull, Gaby Lopez and In Gee Chun at seven under, Korda drained a birdie on 17 to take the lead before her par putt of 18 curled into the hole.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
8 June 2026
-
The Glen Canyon Institute and canyon activists for years have argued that Lake Powell should be drained and the Colorado River allowed to again flow freely through Glen Canyon.—
Elise Schmelzer,
Denver Post,
7 June 2026
Adjective
-
While the beautiful people always display youth (even if it’s paid for), the always original Benito Antonio Martinez Ocasio was unrecognizable, doubling his actual age of 32 with wizened grey hair, beard and bushy eyebrows, prosthetic wrinkles and a cane.—
Merle Ginsberg,
HollywoodReporter,
5 May 2026
-
Yoda Don’t underestimate the wizened little green guy putzing around with a laser sword.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
3 May 2026
Verb
-
The store offers an extensive botanical shop and with a large assortment of both faux and dried botanicals for DIY arrangements or on-site styling help from an expert.—
Fousia Abdullahi,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
2 June 2026
-
Cows produce more colostrum than their calves need, so the excess is collected, pasteurized, dried and packaged for human consumption.—
Suzanne Nuyen,
NPR,
2 June 2026
Adjective
-
Brig is in the Upper Valais, a gaunt and conservative place where the inhabitants speak Walliser German, an Alpine dialect that many Swiss people find unintelligible.—
Sam Knight,
New Yorker,
1 June 2026
-
Gilbert, now imprisoned at Clinton Correctional Facility in upstate New York, appeared gaunt and withdrawn during the interview, at times mumbling short responses before abruptly cutting the conversation short.—
Stepheny Price,
FOXNews.com,
27 May 2026
Verb
-
Elsewhere, Broadway tours evaporated as leadership increasingly shifted focus toward campus rentals and a handful of special events, including a Mark Twain Prize ceremony honoring Bill Maher.—
Janay Kingsberry,
The Atlantic,
6 June 2026
-
Thoughts of wedding plans evaporated.—
Stephanie Mack,
PEOPLE,
6 June 2026
Verb
-
Then Pelley went scorched earth against the new CBS News and Paramount leadership.—
Cheyenne Roundtree,
Rolling Stone,
3 June 2026
-
Basil also benefits from taller pepper plants, which provide enough shade to prevent basil leaves from getting scorched during intense summer heat.—
Sheryl Geerts,
Better Homes & Gardens,
3 June 2026
Verb
-
Following the 2008 financial crisis, several of Spain’s major industries collapsed, the unemployment rate soared to 27 percent, and the banking system entered such a vicious cycle that not even the Spanish government could afford to rescue it (hence, the EU bailout).—
Rogé Karma,
The Atlantic,
1 June 2026
-
Revenue grew, but margins collapsed and management became chaotic.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shriveled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shriveled. Accessed 8 Jun. 2026.
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