as in evaporates
to become small and wrinkly usually as a result of dehydration
Without irrigation, these plants would shrivel (up) and die.
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Recent Examples of shrivels
Drought shrivels the grapes; excessive heat deprives the juice of acidity; too much rain results in rampant mold.
—
Nicola Twilley, New Yorker, 5 Jan. 2026
Nicola Twilley, New Yorker, 5 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shrivels
Verb
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Hard water is a common cause of these stubborn stains since minerals deposit on the toilet bowl’s surface as the water evaporates.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
2 Jan. 2026
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And because they’re made of the brand’s ultra moisture-wicking Nulux, sweat pretty much evaporates on sight.—
Katie Jackson,
Travel + Leisure,
30 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Cold weather drains batteries quickly.—
Staff Author,
Travel + Leisure,
6 Jan. 2026
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The great Amazon in its north drains large areas as does the Parana-River Plate watershed to its south that reaches the Atlantic in the estuary between Argentina and Uruguay, The San Francisco flows north for hundreds of miles before hooking a right and dropping to the Atlantic.—
Edward Lotterman,
Twin Cities,
4 Jan. 2026
Verb
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It’s wrapped in coral velvet — a soft and highly absorbent fabric that dries fast, according to shoppers.—
Maggie Horton,
PEOPLE,
10 Jan. 2026
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Salt dries into white rings, while melting snow can cause uneven water stains that stiffen leather, dull suede, and discolor fabric.—
Katie Cloyd,
Martha Stewart,
6 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The trailer wastes little time establishing its pressure-cooker premise, quickly barricading five teenagers inside their high school as their hometown collapses into chaos.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
14 Jan. 2026
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Emergency crews work around the clock, but can only restore power for hours daily as high demand immediately collapses the fragile grid system.—
Vasilisa Stepanenko,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Jan. 2026
Verb
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That’s the difference between fury that scorches everything in sight and anger that fuels justice.—
Marc Brackett,
Time,
28 Oct. 2025
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Potent scenes fail to be as intense as Taylor’s grind-you-up performance that scorches everything and everyone around her.—
Randy Myers,
Mercury News,
19 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The California Association of Realtors also predicts that, as economic uncertainty fades and rates begin to decline more steadily, the housing market should improve throughout 2026.—
Sacbee.com,
Sacbee.com,
12 Jan. 2026
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Humans have been chewing gum for thousands of years, long after the flavor fades and without any clear nutritional benefit.—
Deirdre Bardolf,
FOXNews.com,
10 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shrivels.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shrivels. Accessed 16 Jan. 2026.
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