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
On the lower end of skills and pay, apparel employment shriveled as Southern California garment makers focused on fashion and small quantities, eliminating tens of thousands of manual labor jobs.
—
Don Lee, Los Angeles Times, 18 Dec. 2024
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
See All Example Sentences for shrivel
Don Lee, Los Angeles Times, 18 Dec. 2024
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
See All Example Sentences for shrivel
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shrivel
Verb
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These evaporate easily into the air, where they can be inhaled, trigger allergic reactions, and irritate the eyes, nose, and throat.—
Matt Fuchs,
TIME,
21 Feb. 2025
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Its roughly $2 billion economy remains heavily reliant on oil and gas revenue, which is evaporating quickly, and more than 40 percent of its people are estimated to live in poverty.—
Sui-Lee Wee,
New York Times,
16 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
The swamp is not being drained; it’s being filled with more water than the Panama Canal.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
17 Feb. 2025
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Patrick Reed drained a hole-in-one at the 'Watering Hole,' which sent fans into a frenzy.—
Josh Hammer,
Newsweek,
14 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Unlike many other correctors, which can be drying, this one is especially hydrating, thanks to a blend of botanicals.—
Iman Balagam,
Vogue,
24 Feb. 2025
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Use a round brush to lift the roots and shape the ends during the drying process.—
Ariana Quihuiz,
People.com,
22 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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According to the Ukrainian Center for Defense Strategies, the blast triggered a blaze that scorched the refinery’s primary oil procession unit.—
David Axe,
Forbes,
24 Feb. 2025
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The incident also scorched a neighboring structure.—
George Avalos,
The Mercury News,
24 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Officials evacuated the area out of an abundance of caution, stating that if the sinkhole continued to grow, collapsing streets and structures could lead to an explosion if pipes burst.—
Angel Saunders,
People.com,
20 Feb. 2025
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The core collapses as the outer layers of the stars are shed.—
Robert Lea,
Space.com,
20 Feb. 2025
Verb
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From a position of dominance, Newcastle wilted, ceding the initiative and inviting pressure.—
Chris Waugh,
The Athletic,
24 Feb. 2025
-
Add 1 ounce of citrus sauce, stirring until the greens are slightly wilted.—
Peter Burke,
Fox News,
20 Feb. 2025
Verb
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The resin material looks like solid wood but won’t fade in the sun or require repainting.—
Clint Davis,
People.com,
23 Feb. 2025
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The young designer with Nigerian-Indian origins has incorporated files and documents into T-shirts, and has used a fading method on some of the pieces and inserted pieces of gold embroidery onto the shirts and dresses.—
Hikmat Mohammed,
WWD,
21 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Shrivel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shrivel. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.
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