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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Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of shrivel
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
Citrus farmers are also seeing their famous Sicilian oranges shrivelling on their trees from lack of water.
—Barbie Latza Nadeau, CNN, 6 July 2024
The Mountain fire had scorched some of the fruit, leaving it shriveled or in ashes.
—Cindy Carcamo, Los Angeles Times, 20 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for shrivel 
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
Citrus farmers are also seeing their famous Sicilian oranges shrivelling on their trees from lack of water.
—Barbie Latza Nadeau, CNN, 6 July 2024
The Mountain fire had scorched some of the fruit, leaving it shriveled or in ashes.
—Cindy Carcamo, Los Angeles Times, 20 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for shrivel
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shrivel
Verb
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That sense of urgency seems to have evaporated as Bolt struggles to answer questions about the strange deal.—
Iain Martin,
Forbes,
15 Jan. 2025
-
This time, after a 20-point lead late in the second quarter almost completely evaporated at the start of the third, the Heat came together to improve to 3-1 on the trip and 20-17 on the season.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
12 Jan. 2025
Verb
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And, if more private schools did open in rural areas, that would drain enrollment from public schools that often served as centers of the community.—
Alec MacGillis,
ProPublica,
13 Jan. 2025
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Cornell said the next step is to drain the New Glenn rocket of its fuel.—
Jackie Wattles,
CNN,
13 Jan. 2025
Verb
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My swimsuit hangs limp over the edge, drying in the warm embrace of the Salvadoran sun.—
Natalie Stoclet,
Forbes,
18 Jan. 2025
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Even Uncle Gustav, after the giant Swiss Army Knife accident, learned to dry dishes with his feet.—
Margaret Lyons,
EW.com,
17 Jan. 2025
Verb
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The world’s largest automaker had faced withering attacks for being slow to add all-electric vehicles to its lineup, focusing more on hybrids as a transitional technology.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
6 Jan. 2025
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No one apart from the ultras, daubing new withering slogans on bed sheets to be carried into San Siro for the next league game against Cagliari.—
James Horncastle,
The Athletic,
6 Jan. 2025
Verb
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The Eaton Fire, which sparked Tuesday near Pasadena, had scorched a total of 13,690 acres and damaged at least 5,000 buildings as of Friday afternoon.—
Kendrick Marshall,
Sacramento Bee,
11 Jan. 2025
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As the worst disaster raged around them, hired hands kept working to pay the bills Jan. 9, 2025 By Thursday, neighborhoods still smoldered for miles up and down the Pacific Coast Highway, more than 5,000 homes and businesses scorched.—
Jack Dolan,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Six months later, his rating had collapsed, to just 40 percent.—
David Frum,
The Atlantic,
15 Jan. 2025
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That are easy to hold during runs, collapse totally flat for travel, and come with straws for sipping?—
Alexis Berger,
SELF,
15 Jan. 2025
Verb
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This team now wilts under the weight of expectation.—
Marcus Thompson II,
The Athletic,
8 Jan. 2025
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Fierce weather could wilt fall crops, scorch voter turnout in winter, or sink spring ships bearing news and mail.—
Sara Georgini,
Smithsonian Magazine,
3 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Sunlight had begun to fade, casting a shadow on the space.—
Colleen Shalby,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Jan. 2025
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Saturn, nearby, will become visible to the naked eye as dusk fades to darkness and remain observable for around three-and-a-half hours past sunset, at which point the pair will sink below the horizon and out of view.—
Samantha Mathewson,
Space.com,
17 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near shrivel
Cite this Entry
“Shrivel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shrivel. Accessed 22 Jan. 2025.
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