variants
or shrivelling
as in wilting
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variants
or shrivelling
as in evaporating
to become small and wrinkly usually as a result of dehydration
Without irrigation, these plants would shrivel (up) and die.
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Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of shriveling
Tom Yulsman, Time, 23 Feb. 2026
Wrinkling, shriveling, spines falling off, discoloration, and drooping are all signs of underwatering.
—Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Feb. 2026
And with the shriveling of Kate Spade (and excluding Stuart Weitzman, which Tapestry recently unloaded), Coach represents nearly 80% of Tapestry sales.
—Phil Wahba, Fortune, 14 Aug. 2025
Kait Hanson, Southern Living, 8 Mar. 2026
The Great Salt Lake has been shriveling up for decades.
—Evan Bush, NBC news, 7 Mar. 2026
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
Concern is also growing over how salaries have lagged behind inflation, shriveling in value and squeezing household budgets.
—Isabel Debre, Fortune, 11 Feb. 2026
The industry has been shriveling for years.
—Seth Yudof, Rolling Stone, 20 Nov. 2025
Weather extremes are shrivelling harvests on India's tea plantations, endangering the future of an industry famed for beverages as refreshing as Assam and Darjeeling, while reshaping a global trade estimated at more than $10 billion a year.
—Tora Agarwala, Reuters, 29 Aug. 2025
Noun
Unsettling events like these are taking place in the context of climate warming that’s occurring at nearly four times the rate of the global average, and resulting long-term shriveling of the Arctic’s floating lid of sea ice.
—Tom Yulsman, Time, 23 Feb. 2026
Wrinkling, shriveling, spines falling off, discoloration, and drooping are all signs of underwatering.
—Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Feb. 2026
And with the shriveling of Kate Spade (and excluding Stuart Weitzman, which Tapestry recently unloaded), Coach represents nearly 80% of Tapestry sales.
—Phil Wahba, Fortune, 14 Aug. 2025
Verb
Store limes in your fridge’s crisper drawer, which has a lower humidity level that keeps the skins from shriveling.
—Kait Hanson, Southern Living, 8 Mar. 2026
The Great Salt Lake has been shriveling up for decades.
—Evan Bush, NBC news, 7 Mar. 2026
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
Concern is also growing over how salaries have lagged behind inflation, shriveling in value and squeezing household budgets.
—Isabel Debre, Fortune, 11 Feb. 2026
The industry has been shriveling for years.
—Seth Yudof, Rolling Stone, 20 Nov. 2025
Weather extremes are shrivelling harvests on India's tea plantations, endangering the future of an industry famed for beverages as refreshing as Assam and Darjeeling, while reshaping a global trade estimated at more than $10 billion a year.
—Tora Agarwala, Reuters, 29 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shriveling
Noun
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Plant Diseases Soilborne fungal diseases can attack roots, causing sudden, permanent wilting.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
21 Apr. 2026
-
April in Central Florida is commonly one of the drier months of the year before summer rains, showing itself instead with brown lawns, wilting bushes, burning forests and smoky skies.—
Martin E. Comas,
The Orlando Sentinel,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
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These pump coolant through pipes to dissipate heat from servers rather than evaporating water as has been the case in the past.—
Jonathan M. Gitlin,
ArsTechnica,
28 Apr. 2026
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As the world warms, more water from the ocean is evaporating into the atmosphere, leading to more moisture that can fall as rain, leading to more intense and extreme weather.—
Adam Kovac,
Scientific American,
22 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Shane Lowry has the distinction of draining one of the more memorable putts in recent golf history.—
Kels Dayton,
Hartford Courant,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Grow crocosmia in moist, organically rich, well-draining soil in full sun to light shade.—
Madeline Buiano,
Martha Stewart,
27 Apr. 2026
Noun
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While it’s made of weather-resistant wicker, shoppers recommend covering it during inclement weather to prevent fading.—
Jacqueline Tempera,
Better Homes & Gardens,
25 Apr. 2026
-
Proper storage—like keeping books upright, away from moisture, and out of direct sunlight—prevents fading, mold, and pests.—
Olivia McIntosh,
Martha Stewart,
22 Apr. 2026
Verb
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This interactive project looks at the impact of warmer, shorter winters on regions all over the country, from less ice fishing in Minnesota and fewer ski days in Colorado to drying reservoirs in the Southwest and more ticks and mosquitoes in the Northeast.—
Phaedra Trethan,
USA Today,
27 Apr. 2026
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Finding the right waterproof sandal is key, where quick-drying materials, durability, and customized comfort reign supreme.—
Lara Kramer,
Condé Nast Traveler,
27 Apr. 2026
Noun
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But Wells points out that in addition to the natural waning of the virus, other public health measures, such as vaccination and isolation, are instrumental in stopping its spread.—
Lauren J. Young,
Scientific American,
21 Aug. 2025
Verb
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As this process is the main source of energy produced by the sun, this will mean the outward pressure that stops the sun from collapsing under its own gravity also ceases.—
Robert Lea,
Space.com,
23 Apr. 2026
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And what's the difference between weakening and collapsing?—
Doyle Rice,
USA Today,
23 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Reports showing inflation and unemployment declining have subsequently been released, and a nominee for the Federal Reserve chairman role has since been announced.—
Matt Richardson,
CBS News,
26 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shriveling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shriveling. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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