shriveled

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'shriveled' is correct and usable in written English.
It is an adjective that means to become wrinkled and dried up, often as a result of dehydration or age. It can also be used to describe something that has diminished or become smaller in size or significance. Example: The once plump and juicy grape had shriveled into a raisin after being left in the sun all day. The shriveled old woman clutched onto her cane as she slowly made her way down the street. The plant's leaves had shriveled due to lack of water during the drought. As I grew older, my dreams of becoming an astronaut shriveled with each passing year.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

We have a world in which private-sector unions have shriveled while public-sector ones have grown.

The Economist

In that year real net wages were €415 but now, as the Dinar loses value, they have shriveled to €348.As the Dinar goes down, Serbia's external debt of €22.2bn (at the end of 2011), which must be paid in hard currency, goes up.

The Economist

Hulme and Gaudler-Brzeska, died in action, Vorticism shriveled to a small few by the beginning of the 1920s.

Britannica

Inflated visual effects shriveled the emotional appeal of Peter Jackson's The Lovely Bones, adapted from Alice Sebald's best-selling novel about a murdered teenage girl.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Discarding nuts that are discoloured, shriveled, or moldy helps reduce the risk.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Today my shriveled, Old Giants Fan cortex is suffused with happy thoughts for this young, freshly crowned World Championship edition of my old nine, which beat up on the Texas Rangers in the now concluded Series, winning four out of five games, and allowing them but a single run (and a single base-runner past second) over their last twenty-one innings.

The New Yorker

Alex's co-star in the movie has, beneath her perfume and face powder, "a flat dry odor as of something that had first gone rank and then become parched and shriveled".

The New Yorker

Sam got meningitis, lost his mind, and shriveled up, and I took care of him right here — I.V. things all day, and hypodermics into the stomach — and I thought, I'm going to die here.

The New Yorker

For the most part, grants available to taxonomists have shriveled as specialties like genomics gain ascendance in biology, Dr. Cameron said.

The New York Times

BARCELONA, Spain — When it was over, and the balloons had shriveled and the whistles had faded away, Lionel Messi put his hands to his head.

The New York Times - Sports

Across the country, this is a tough time for small arts groups, because state grants have largely shriveled up.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "shriveled" to vividly describe physical objects that have shrunk and wrinkled due to dehydration, aging, or other causes, enhancing the reader's sensory experience.

Common error

Avoid using "shriveled" to describe abstract concepts if a more precise term like 'diminished' or 'weakened' would be more appropriate. "Shriveled" is best when evoking a physical image.

Linguistic Context

The word "shriveled" functions primarily as an adjective, modifying nouns to describe a state of being wrinkled, contracted, and reduced in size, often due to loss of moisture or vitality. As Ludwig AI confirms, it vividly depicts physical degradation.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Encyclopedias

12%

Science

20%

Less common in

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "shriveled" is a versatile adjective used to describe something that has shrunk and wrinkled, often due to dehydration or age. As Ludwig AI explains, it is grammatically correct and frequently used. With a high frequency, as shown by Ludwig's examples, "shriveled" appears most commonly in News & Media, and Encyclopedias. When using "shriveled", ensure it vividly describes a physical object and avoid overuse in abstract contexts where 'diminished' or 'weakened' might be more suitable. Consider alternatives like "withered" or "shrunken" depending on the nuance you wish to convey. In summary, while technically correct, be mindful of your use of the word "shriveled" to maintain appropriate style and tone.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

withered

Implies a loss of freshness or vitality, often associated with plants.

shrunken

Focuses on the reduction in size, often due to contraction.

desiccated

Emphasizes extreme dryness and loss of moisture.

atrophied

Suggests a wasting away, often due to lack of use or nourishment.

wasted

Implies a gradual decline in health or strength.

diminished

Focuses on a decrease in size, extent, or importance.

contracted

Emphasizes a drawing together or shortening of something.

dwindled

Suggests a gradual reduction in number or amount.

decreased

A general term for becoming smaller or less.

reduced

A more neutral term for making something smaller or less in amount, degree, or size.

FAQs

How can I use "shriveled" in a sentence?

You can use "shriveled" to describe something that has shrunk and wrinkled, such as, "The drought left the leaves "withered" and shriveled" or "The "shrunken", shriveled apple looked unappetizing".

What words can I use instead of "shriveled"?

Alternatives to "shriveled" include "withered", "shrunken", "desiccated", or "atrophied", depending on the specific context and the nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say something "shriveled up"?

Yes, "shriveled up" is a common phrasal verb that means the same as "shriveled". For example, "The plant shriveled up due to lack of water".

What is the difference between "shriveled" and "withered"?

"Shriveled" usually refers to something that has shrunk and wrinkled due to loss of moisture, while "withered" implies a loss of freshness, vitality, or vigor, often associated with plants or living things.