Library / English Dictionary

SHRIVEL

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

Irregular inflected forms: shrivelled    , shrivelling   

 I. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Decrease in size, range, or extent

Example:

My courage shrivelled when I saw the task before me

Synonyms:

shrink; shrivel

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Hypernyms (to "shrivel" is one way to...):

decrease; diminish; fall; lessen (decrease in size, extent, or range)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s

Sentence example:

Their earnings shrivel this year

Sense 2

Meaning:

Wither, as with a loss of moisture

Example:

The fruit dried and shriveled

Synonyms:

shrink; shrivel; shrivel up; wither

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Hypernyms (to "shrivel" is one way to...):

decrease; diminish; fall; lessen (decrease in size, extent, or range)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "shrivel"):

atrophy (undergo atrophy)

blast (shrivel or wither or mature imperfectly)

die back; die down (suffer from a disease that kills shoots)

dry up; mummify (dry up and shrivel due to complete loss of moisture)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s

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