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
-
Within an hour, half the conversation evaporates.—
Kelly Ehlers,
Rolling Stone,
27 Apr. 2026
-
In higher temperatures, moisture evaporates faster from the ground, plants and surface water.—
The Conversation,
The Conversation,
22 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
This idea of reasonableness is easily caricatured as moral timidity or a bloodless neutrality that drains politics of passion.—
Nikhil Krishnan,
New Yorker,
20 Apr. 2026
-
That’s why a fine textured soil, like clay, drains more poorly than does a coarse, sandy soil.—
Paul Cappiello,
Louisville Courier Journal,
17 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Unlike many spray sunscreens that feel sticky or heavy, this one truly dries down fast and disappears into the skin.—
Brigitt Earley,
Glamour,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Roborock Robot Vacuum and Mop Deal The Roborock Qrevo is for the elite couch-rot enthusiasts, featuring 8,000Pa HyperForce suction and an all-in-one dock that empties the dust, refills the water, and even washes and dries the mopping pads.—
Juhi Wadia,
PC Magazine,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
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As the video demonstrates, von Ensingen’s drawing (not in the show, alas) collapses all the levels, complete with stairs, setbacks, vaults, and columns, onto a single plane.—
Justin Davidson,
Curbed,
23 Apr. 2026
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For Tottenham, what once felt unthinkable is fast becoming one of the most remarkable collapses the 34-year Premier League era has seen.—
Dean Jones,
New York Times,
22 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Tucson will also be at or near record temperatures through March 27 as the state’s unprecedented heat wave scorches on, the weather service said.—
Ray Stern,
AZCentral.com,
25 Mar. 2026
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As the world around them scorches under record heat, a family walks into the woods, asking what the future holds in this thermal dystopia.—
Anthony D'Alessandro,
Deadline,
14 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
It's become the default mode of governing for majorities in Congress as bipartisanship on major issues fades away.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Come evening, the pizza oven glows or a local farm-to-table chef cooks as the light fades.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
23 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shrivels.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shrivels. Accessed 30 Apr. 2026.
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