as in quieting (down)
to stop talking
sick of her constant complaining, he angrily told her to dry up
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Recent Examples of drying up
His foray into fiction coincided with the writers’ strike, drying up all his income and future projects.
—
Mariella Rudi,
Los Angeles Times,
1 July 2026
The trade market is drying up a bit at center, though Panarin’s former teammate Vincent Trocheck and others may still be in play.
—
Andrew Knoll,
Daily News,
28 June 2026
Farmers are drying up acreage and, for about 40 miles downstream of Bend, fish habitats suffer, state scientists told us.
—
Emily Cureton Cook,
ProPublica,
26 June 2026
Employment opportunities are drying up for many, and others learn from an early age not to talk about their feelings.
—
Rob Picheta,
CNN Money,
21 June 2026
Federal labor data shows job opening and hiring rates have tumbled from pandemic-era peaks, signaling that work opportunities are drying up.
—
Alex Harring,
CNBC,
4 June 2026
To prevent the eggs from drying up, they're stored in plastic containers packed with damp earth and taken, miles away, to a place that's more climate-controlled.
—
Nathan Rott,
NPR,
27 May 2026
There is great concern because the springs in Arachova are drying up and reservoirs are not refilling, according to the mayor.
—
ABC News,
24 May 2026
Los Angeles — The Colorado River is in crisis, with a growing population taking more water from it as a hotter climate is drying up the supply.
—
Jonathan Vigliotti,
CBS News,
17 May 2026
Mariella Rudi,
Los Angeles Times,
1 July 2026
The trade market is drying up a bit at center, though Panarin’s former teammate Vincent Trocheck and others may still be in play.
—
Andrew Knoll,
Daily News,
28 June 2026
Farmers are drying up acreage and, for about 40 miles downstream of Bend, fish habitats suffer, state scientists told us.
—
Emily Cureton Cook,
ProPublica,
26 June 2026
Employment opportunities are drying up for many, and others learn from an early age not to talk about their feelings.
—
Rob Picheta,
CNN Money,
21 June 2026
Federal labor data shows job opening and hiring rates have tumbled from pandemic-era peaks, signaling that work opportunities are drying up.
—
Alex Harring,
CNBC,
4 June 2026
To prevent the eggs from drying up, they're stored in plastic containers packed with damp earth and taken, miles away, to a place that's more climate-controlled.
—
Nathan Rott,
NPR,
27 May 2026
There is great concern because the springs in Arachova are drying up and reservoirs are not refilling, according to the mayor.
—
ABC News,
24 May 2026
Los Angeles — The Colorado River is in crisis, with a growing population taking more water from it as a hotter climate is drying up the supply.
—
Jonathan Vigliotti,
CBS News,
17 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for drying up
Verb
-
Less sweat-trapping than many synthetic jackets, the Oreus kept me from clamming up while ski-touring in five-degree temps and dissipated sweat quickly when worn after strenuous climbs.
Verb
-
The audience is there in the flesh, shutting up and paying attention to your talent.
-
The core Mom skills — listening, caring, advising; maybe a little nagging, maybe shutting up — never go away.
Verb
-
There are a lot of ways to declutter out there—the pile method and the discernment method are two of them, and now, everyone’s hushing their house.
-
Unfortunately, the austerity and elegance of the downstairs dining room acts as a dampener, hushing the salad’s brashness and sapping much of the fun.
Verb
-
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.
Cite this Entry
“Drying up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/drying%20up. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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