Definition

1. Verb:
   • To contract and wrinkle, often due to loss of moisture, heat, or vitality; to become smaller and less full, appearing dried up and withered.
   • To cause something to contract and wrinkle in this manner.

Usage

• Intransitive Verb (to shrivel): Describes the process where something loses moisture and becomes smaller, wrinkled, or withered on its own.
• Transitive Verb (to shrivel something): Describes the action of causing something to become smaller, wrinkled, or withered.

Examples

• Intransitive Use:
  • The leaves began to shrivel in the intense summer heat.
  • Without water, the flowers will shrivel and die.
• Transitive Use:
  • The drought has shriveled the crops in the field.
  • The harsh detergent can shrivel delicate fabrics.

Advanced Usage

• "shrivel up": A phrasal verb emphasizing the complete process of becoming withered and contracted.
  • The apple core will shrivel up if you leave it on the counter.
• Used figuratively to describe a decline in non-physical qualities like confidence, hope, or importance.
  • Her confidence shriveled under his critical gaze.
  • The company's market share has shriveled to almost nothing.

Variants and Related Words

• Shriveled (adjective): Describes the state of being wrinkled and contracted due to loss of moisture.
  • He offered her a shriveled old apple.
• Shriveling (noun/gerund): The process of shriveling.
  • The shriveling of the grapes was caused by the sun.

Synonyms

• Wither: To become dry and sapless; to lose vitality, force, or freshness. Often used interchangeably with for plants.
• Wilt: To lose freshness, vigor, or vitality; often implies a drooping before complete shriveling.
• Parch: To dry or roast thoroughly, often causing to shrivel, typically due to extreme heat.
• Desiccate: To remove moisture from something thoroughly; to dry up.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Shrivel up: To become completely shriveled. Often used for emphasis.
  • The forgotten balloon had shriveled up into a small piece of rubber.

Related Idioms

• To shrivel on the vine: To fail or deteriorate before reaching potential or completion. (A figurative idiom derived from grapes withering before harvest).
  • Without proper funding, many good ideas shrivel on the vine.

Verb

1. decrease in size, range, or extent
   • His earnings shrank
   • My courage shrivelled when I saw the task before me
2. wither, as with a loss of moisture
   • The fruit dried and shriveled