as in to evaporate
to become small and wrinkly usually as a result of dehydration
Without irrigation, these plants would shrivel (up) and die.
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of shrivel
This fact is particularly true if the item in question is shriveled, moldy, or smelly.
—
Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 8 Dec. 2024
Yes, if there’s a cold snap, these lovely symbols of wintertime will politely shrivel up as if waiting for a draft to pass.
—Aj Willingham, CNN, 7 Dec. 2024
Her makeup had lots of wrinkles, and her body was shriveled up in her post.
—Stephanie Giang-Paunon, Fox News, 31 Oct. 2024
Citrus farmers are also seeing their famous Sicilian oranges shrivelling on their trees from lack of water.
—Barbie Latza Nadeau, CNN, 6 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for shrivel 
Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 8 Dec. 2024
Yes, if there’s a cold snap, these lovely symbols of wintertime will politely shrivel up as if waiting for a draft to pass.
—Aj Willingham, CNN, 7 Dec. 2024
Her makeup had lots of wrinkles, and her body was shriveled up in her post.
—Stephanie Giang-Paunon, Fox News, 31 Oct. 2024
Citrus farmers are also seeing their famous Sicilian oranges shrivelling on their trees from lack of water.
—Barbie Latza Nadeau, CNN, 6 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for shrivel
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shrivel
Verb
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But evaporating government protections and economic instability are soon to come careening into an already precarious season of industry.—
Craig Jenkins,
Vulture,
3 Feb. 2025
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Cook, stirring to scrape up browned bits from bottom of pan, until bourbon is evaporated, about 1 minute.—
Marianne Williams,
Southern Living,
31 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Natural calamities—floods, earthquakes, droughts, landslides—have also drained resources.—
Belinda Luscombe,
TIME,
7 Feb. 2025
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The savvy used patronage to expand, not drain, their wealth.—
Brian Klaas,
The Atlantic,
7 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Regions like northeastern Brazil, one of the world’s notable cocoa-producing areas, are grappling with increasing aridity – a slow, yet unrelenting drying of the land.—
Narcisa Pricope,
The Conversation,
10 Feb. 2025
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The vacuum heats up to 140 degrees Fahrenheit to dry excess moisture, which can cause mold and mildew to grow.—
Maggie Horton,
People.com,
10 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Before October 7, 2023, when the Gaza Strip was still intact, polls showed that popular support for Hamas had been withering for some time.—
Scott Atran,
Foreign Affairs,
14 Feb. 2025
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The flowers are generally only open for a day or two before withering.—
Miri Talabac,
Baltimore Sun,
13 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Just don’t place them in direct sunlight, which will scorch their leaves.—
Arricca Elin SanSone,
Southern Living,
16 Feb. 2025
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Trump has already nixed most of the workers at the U.S. Agency for International Development, scorched the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, and is set to dismantle the Education Department—all created and funded by Congress.—
Philip Elliott,
TIME,
14 Feb. 2025
Verb
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The wealthy were not allowed to simply hoard their wealth, park it in an offshore haven, and escape catastrophe by sailing away from a collapsing society on a superyacht.—
Brian Klaas,
The Atlantic,
7 Feb. 2025
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The building resembles a doll house after the entire front wall collapsed and exposed the insides of the damaged interior.—
Tareq Al Hilou,
CNN,
5 Feb. 2025
Verb
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As the character loses his sanity, his off-white robe begins to wilt, becoming threadlike and soiled.—
Ash Wu,
New York Times,
1 Feb. 2025
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But Reese didn’t wilt against the Indiana big men combo of Oumar Ballo and Malik Reneau.—
Bennett Conlin,
Baltimore Sun,
28 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Signs of the labor market weakening more than expected contributed to that decision at the time, but those fears have since faded.—
Bryan Mena,
CNN,
11 Feb. 2025
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But that enthusiasm quickly faded as Maximilien Robespierre and Madame de Guillotine took charge.—
Justin Gest,
Newsweek,
11 Feb. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near shrivel
Cite this Entry
“Shrivel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shrivel. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.
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