as in evaporates
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 shrivels
Drought shrivels the grapes; excessive heat deprives the juice of acidity; too much rain results in rampant mold.
—
Nicola Twilley, New Yorker, 5 Jan. 2026
Nicola Twilley, New Yorker, 5 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shrivels
Verb
-
Viguera evaporates the alcohol from spirits to create mocktails that retain the complexity of their originals.—
Melinda Joe,
Travel + Leisure,
7 Feb. 2026
-
When the water evaporates, minerals like calcium and magnesium, are left behind.—
Madeline Buiano,
Martha Stewart,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Keep a shallow pan or old towel handy in case any water drains during the process.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
14 Feb. 2026
-
Use a good quality potting mix that drains well in the container.—
Sheryl Geerts,
Better Homes & Gardens,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The fragrance opens with bergamot, pink pepper and cardamom; features heart notes of tobacco flower, vetiver and patchouli, and dries down to base notes of cashmere wood, palo santo, incense, leather, oud and cade.—
James Manso,
Footwear News,
11 Feb. 2026
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Snow disappearing earlier than average leaves the ground exposed to warmer weather in the spring and summer, which dries soils and vegetation quicker, said Daniel McEvoy, researcher with the Western Regional Climate Center.—
Dorany Pineda,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Multiple Independence homeowners suffered structural damage, flooding or partial home collapses that week, including Manuel Ramirez and Michael Thomas, whose home was built in 1949.—
Ilana Arougheti,
Kansas City Star,
11 Feb. 2026
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Social psychologists have long demonstrated that when individuals merge into a group, nuance collapses.—
Rabbi Bruce D. Forman,
Sun Sentinel,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
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As the world around them scorches under record heat, a family walks into the woods, asking what the future holds in this thermal dystopia.—
Anthony D'Alessandro,
Deadline,
14 Jan. 2026
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That’s the difference between fury that scorches everything in sight and anger that fuels justice.—
Marc Brackett,
Time,
28 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Finally, the nebula fades away and only a white dwarf is left behind.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
11 Feb. 2026
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City of London skyline with 20 Fenchurch Street, affectionately nicknamed the Walkie Talkie as light fades at dusk on 27th November 2025 in London, United Kingdom.—
Hugh Leask,Chloe Taylor,
CNBC,
10 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shrivels.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shrivels. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
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