as in to quiet (down)
to stop talking
sick of her constant complaining, he angrily told her to dry up
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of dry up
The fossils were first discovered by a local resident in 2016 and initial excavation happened between then and 2019, but then funding dried up.
—
James Doubek, NPR, 14 May 2026
Research money to study the only hantavirus transmitted from person to person — the same strain that broke out on the cruise ship — dried up.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 14 May 2026
Museums and art foundations have grown increasingly reliant on sponsorship as public funding for culture dries up on both sides of the Atlantic.
—Joelle Diderich, Footwear News, 14 May 2026
By the 1970s, the mines dried up and shuttered.
—Catherine Garcia, TheWeek, 13 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for dry up
James Doubek, NPR, 14 May 2026
Research money to study the only hantavirus transmitted from person to person — the same strain that broke out on the cruise ship — dried up.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 14 May 2026
Museums and art foundations have grown increasingly reliant on sponsorship as public funding for culture dries up on both sides of the Atlantic.
—Joelle Diderich, Footwear News, 14 May 2026
By the 1970s, the mines dried up and shuttered.
—Catherine Garcia, TheWeek, 13 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for dry up
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dry up
Verb
-
Tima said the event opened up the eyes of many attendees about domestic violence, a conversation that is typically hushed in Caribbean households.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
16 May 2026
-
Maggie saw couples pointing, whispering hushed opinions to each other.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
8 May 2026
Verb
-
Everyone in the theater clammed up, as if embarrassed to have endorsed Max with laughter.—
Jackson McHenry,
Vulture,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Your language model would clam up from time to time to conserve its resources.—
Amanda Gefter,
Quanta Magazine,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The core Mom skills — listening, caring, advising; maybe a little nagging, maybe shutting up — never go away.—
Andre Mouchard,
Daily News,
9 May 2026
-
Even when the houselights dim mid-overture some of them still don’t shut up.—
Christopher Arnott,
Hartford Courant,
3 May 2026
Verb
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During a January thaw, water trickled from a burst pipe down an interior wall, into a basement storage closet, and ruined all of Dora’s wedding dresses.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
26 Mar. 2026
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The Softstreme Classic-fit High-rise Joggers have piping down the front that creates a more elevated look, while deep pockets and a comfortable, flat waistband lend themselves to comfort and practicality.—
Merrell Readman,
Travel + Leisure,
5 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dry up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dry%20up. Accessed 23 May. 2026.
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