SHRIVELED Synonyms: 100 Similar and Opposite Words

shriveled 1 of 2

adjective

variants or shrivelled

as in withered

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Dissimilar Words

shriveled

2 of 2

verb

variants or shrivelled

past tense of shrivel

as in drained

to become small and wrinkly usually as a result of dehydration Without irrigation, these plants would shrivel (up) and die.

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of shriveled

Adjective

This shrivelled existence was meant to have ended with a change of direction which was officially ratified by the Premier League in December 2024. — George Caulkin, New York Times, 7 Sep. 2026 During the final few minutes of cooking, check the corn frequently—even an extra minute or two can make the difference between juicy, tender kernels and dry, shriveled ones. — Olivia McIntosh, Martha Stewart, 4 Aug. 2026 Papayas that are mostly green are not ripe, while those with many soft spots or darker, shriveled skin are overripe or spoiled. — Sherri Gordon, Health, 2 Aug. 2026 Pests Yellowing or shriveled leaves and stunted growth can also be signs of pests. — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 29 June 2026 New stems can become shriveled and fall off the plant, and whole segments might drop if the plant struggles with depleted soil and a too-small pot. — Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Dec. 2025

Verb

As sprouting progresses, the sweet potato may become softer, shriveled, or less flavorful. — Lynn Andriani, Martha Stewart, 4 Sep. 2026 Wild pheasants use it all, and after late November they’ll be concentrated in the heavy cover because crop fields are gleaned and frost will have shriveled a lot of vegetation. — Ron Spomer, Outdoor Life, 19 Aug. 2026 For decades, so much water has been taken that the river seldom meets the sea in Mexico, and its delta, once filled with lush wetlands and forests, has shriveled to stretches of dry riverbed. — Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 21 July 2026 Avoid berries that are soft or appear mushy or shriveled as these are indications that the fruit is past its prime. — Stacey Lastoe, Southern Living, 14 July 2026 The skin split, the ends were shriveled, and the texture was limp. — Dianna Douglas, NPR, 28 June 2026 Berries that are shriveled, soft, or visibly mushy are likely past their prime and won’t be appetizing. — Jillian Kubala, Health, 30 Apr. 2026 Sales of photography, moving-image work, sculpture, and most conceptual work have shriveled up, except at the very highest levels. — Alex Greenberger, ARTnews.com, 6 Apr. 2026 Desert wildflowers shriveled up early this year due to the historic heat wave, leading to a lackluster sightseeing season and fewer visitors at some state parks. — Ray Stern, AZCentral.com, 27 Mar. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for shriveled

Adjective

Once brimming with life, the Dodgers’ historic quest has curled up into a withered heap.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026
Firefighters struggled to contain the initial outbreak, and strong winds, allied to the withered land, saw the flames quickly spread.

— Chris Marshall-Bell, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of withered

Verb

Following a major eruption in 2018 that partly drained one of the underground lava reservoirs, there were indications that it was being steadily refilled.

— John Timmer, ArsTechnica, 9 Oct. 2026
Not only that, but the Strategic Petroleum Reserve has been aggressively drained to ease the energy shock.

— Matt Egan, CNN Money, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of drained

Adjective

Few signs of humanity interrupted the rocky shoreline — just a couple of cabins and the wooden railings of a path leading to a wizened cedar tree revered by the tribe.

— Michael Hawthorne, Chicago Tribune, 23 Aug. 2026
His wizened next-door neighbors (Mary Woodvine and Adrian Rawlins) are younger, mistaking him for their son Luke, a former crew member of the Rose of Nevada who died by suicide.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 19 June 2026

Definition of wizened

Verb

That gives the gin a pale yellow color, and adds barrel notes of oak and dried fruit to a palate shaped by botanicals including juniper, queen of the night (a nocturnal cactus flower), coriander seed, Damask rose, and Nigerian ginger.

— Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 15 Oct. 2026
About a month after the ink dried on that contract, Kim, who had slipped on ice and fallen while in his native Korea, had surgery to repair a tendon on his right middle finger.

— Chad Bishop, AJC.com, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of dried

Adjective

The group last played a public show on July 18 in Valdosta, Georgia, following an uneven few months where Love appeared gaunt and sang in a raspy, diminished voice.

— Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 6 Oct. 2026
Apple was widely criticized in the late 2000s for not volunteering more information about Jobs’ health, especially as concerns about his gaunt appearance battered the company’s shares.

— Allison Morrow, CNN Money, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of gaunt

Verb

Ryder’s Law was reintroduced this year after another carriage horse collapsed and died in Central Park, and in a separate incident, tourist Romanch Mahajan, 18, died after falling off a carriage after the operator lost control.

— Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 14 Oct. 2026
In Peru, the world’s largest catcher of anchovies, the fishing industry collapsed after the tiny baitfish abandoned the country’s waters for cooler northern climes.

— The Week US, TheWeek, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of collapsed

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“Shriveled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shriveled. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of shriveled

adjective

verb

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