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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Already, 10 times more water evaporates off Arizona’s arid landscape and fitful rivers.—
Shi En Kim,
AZCentral.com,
26 Jan. 2026
-
When the sun is just skimming across the horizon and ducking behind other peaks, all the heat that the sun baked into the snow and rocks during the day evaporates—fast.—
Outside,
Outside,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Saying yes to work that fills time but drains energy is a financial choice, whether it's labeled that way or not.—
Jennifer Jay Palumbo,
Forbes.com,
26 Jan. 2026
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The batteries therefore can’t release as much energy, which cuts down their range and sometimes drains them faster.—
Miriam Fauzia,
Dallas Morning News,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The eco mode, or low heat setting, on a dryer dryer dries your clothes at a lower temperature over a longer period of time.—
Sarah Lyon,
The Spruce,
1 Feb. 2026
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When the board dries, apply a coat of oil and beeswax cream to remoisturize the wood.—
Lizzy Briskin,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The video ends as Chakraborty collapses onto a couch and groans in pain with the officer continuing to yell at him to drop the knife.—
Colin Mixson,
New York Daily News,
4 Feb. 2026
-
Perhaps owner Bob Nutting will intercede and order general manager Ben Cherington to sign McCutchen, fearing yet another public relations nightmare if the team’s relationship with a franchise legend collapses.—
Ken Rosenthal,
New York Times,
3 Feb. 2026
Verb
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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
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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
Verb
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That relatively minor problem fades into the background when he’s suddenly called back to his hometown to raise an estranged teenage daughter (Hannah Elise Adolfsen Fjeldbraaten) who doesn’t want to know him.—
Judy Berman,
Time,
30 Jan. 2026
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For most people, the effect is mild and fades as your body processes the caffeine.—
Brandi Jones,
Verywell Health,
30 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shrivels.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shrivels. Accessed 5 Feb. 2026.
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