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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Recent Examples of shrivel
Winter The goal in winter is to water cacti just enough to prevent them from shriveling and wrinkling.
—
Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Feb. 2026
While watering too often can lead to mushy leaves and root rot, watering too little will cause the leaves to turn brown and shrivel up.
—Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 16 Feb. 2026
Many plants look shriveled up and dead, but are actually just conserving water and energy during the cold winter months.
—Ashley Chalmers, The Spruce, 11 Feb. 2026
Before kick-off, their home record is identical to Newcastle’s away — won two, drawn four, lost six — but when the game begins, the similarities shrivel.
—George Caulkin, New York Times, 11 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for shrivel
Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Feb. 2026
While watering too often can lead to mushy leaves and root rot, watering too little will cause the leaves to turn brown and shrivel up.
—Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 16 Feb. 2026
Many plants look shriveled up and dead, but are actually just conserving water and energy during the cold winter months.
—Ashley Chalmers, The Spruce, 11 Feb. 2026
Before kick-off, their home record is identical to Newcastle’s away — won two, drawn four, lost six — but when the game begins, the similarities shrivel.
—George Caulkin, New York Times, 11 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for shrivel
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shrivel
Verb
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The summer sun can evaporate water before roots can absorb it.—
Sophia Beams,
Better Homes & Gardens,
3 Apr. 2026
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With French support all but evaporated, organizers scramble for alternative sources.—
Smooth Nzewi,
Artforum,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Some fruit trees might prefer wet weather and moist earth, but others will perform best with well-draining, sandy soil.—
Emily Hayes,
Martha Stewart,
2 Apr. 2026
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That includes details that criminals can use to drain accounts, open loans, or impersonate you.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The results could one day help mitigate the problem of toxic dust spewing from the drying lake bed onto Salt Lake City—the Great Salt Lake’s bed is laced with arsenic, a toxic substance that, when people are exposed to it as dust, may cause cancers, respiratory problems and heart disease.—
Jackie Flynn Mogensen,
Scientific American,
31 Mar. 2026
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Alcohol can be stinging and drying to the skin.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
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At work, communication determines whether ideas wither or rise.—
Ryan Roslansky
Aneesh Raman,
CNBC,
31 Mar. 2026
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Then the strength of their team withered and left them still seeking their first victory under new manager Craig Stammen.—
Kevin Acee,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
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However, it must be shielded from scorching sun.—
Joshua Siskin,
Oc Register,
28 Mar. 2026
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The eruption did more than cool the skies and scorch an entire network of valleys.—
Quanta Magazine,
Quanta Magazine,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The innermost rim formed later, when a mountain at the crater’s center collapsed.—
Meghan Bartels,
Scientific American,
4 Apr. 2026
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Eventually, Pearlene collapsed and died inside a makeshift bathroom in the family’s trailer, which had no running water or electricity.—
Angel Saunders,
PEOPLE,
4 Apr. 2026
Verb
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In summer, water daily to keep the soil moist so plants don’t wilt.—
Nan Sterman,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
4 Apr. 2026
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The high that day ended up being unseasonably warm at 85°F, so by the afternoon, the hydrangeas had wilted completely.—
Tessa Cooper,
Southern Living,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The leader of the Ex-Slave Pension Association was later imprisoned on mail fraud charges, and the organization faded away, while the Eagles became one of the pressure groups that eventually led to Social Security.—
Trevor Jackson,
The New York Review of Books,
4 Apr. 2026
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Pensions faded, and a new system of 401(k) retirement savings rewarded Americans for working longer.—
Daniel de Visé,
USA Today,
4 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shrivel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shrivel. Accessed 7 Apr. 2026.
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