shrivel

verb

shriv·​el ˈshri-vəl 

 especially Southern  ˈsri-

shriveled or shrivelled; shriveling or shrivelling ˈshri-vəl-iŋ 

ˈsri-;

ˈshriv-liŋ,

ˈsriv-

intransitive verb

1

: to draw into wrinkles especially with a loss of moisture

2

a

: to become reduced to inanition, helplessness, or inefficiency

b

: dwindle

transitive verb

: to cause to shrivel

Examples of shrivel in a Sentence

plants shriveling in the heat

Recent Examples on the Web

An unforgettable figure, larger than life (though sickness had shriveled his body). —Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 18 June 2024

Fruits that are incompletely pollinated will shrivel and die. —Dawn Pettinelli, Hartford Courant, 9 Mar. 2024

Under the unrelenting sun, grass turns to brown straw, and almost everything green shrivels and dies—except for the clustered carline thistle, a plant with humble yellow flowers and a surprising superpower. —Elizabeth Anne Brown, Scientific American, 27 Feb. 2024

Christian shrivels up in fear, unable to fully defend or explain himself to his father. —Carrie Wittmer, Vulture, 21 Feb. 2024

Word History

Etymology

origin unknown

First Known Use

1565, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Kids Definition

shrivel

verb

shriv·​el ˈshriv-əl 

shriveled or shrivelled; shriveling or shrivelling -(ə-)liŋ 

: to shrink and become dry and wrinkled