shrivel

intransitive-verb
UK: /ˈʃrɪv.əl/
US: /ˈʃrɪv.əl/

  1. To become dry, smaller, and wrinkled, often because of heat or old age.

    1. The sun made the grapes shrivel up.
    2. Without water, the plant will shrivel and die within a few days, its leaves turning brown at the edges.

  2. To become weaker or smaller, and gradually disappear.

    1. Her confidence began to shrivel after the constant criticism.
    2. Hopes for a peace agreement shrivel in the face of renewed violence and distrust between the factions.

Synonyms

contract dry up decline shrink wither
shrivel transitive-verb

  1. To make something dry, smaller, and wrinkled.

    1. The intense heat shrivels the fruit on the trees.
    2. The frost shriveled the leaves, turning them brown and brittle within a matter of hours.

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "shrivel" in English means: To become dry, smaller, and wrinkled, often because of heat or old age., To become weaker or smaller, and gradually disappear..

The phonetic transcription of "shrivel" is /ˈʃrɪv.əl/ in British English and /ˈʃrɪv.əl/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "shrivel": contract, dry up, decline, shrink, wither.

Example usage of "shrivel": "The sun made the grapes shrivel up.". More examples on the page.