shrivel up
Lose all moisture
To shrivel up is to contract and wrinkle, becoming smaller and drier: The grapes shriveled up in the sun.
The phrase emphasizes the completeness of the process more than shrivel alone.
Figuratively, something can shrivel up from disuse or neglect: His ambitions shriveled up after years of rejection.
- dehydrateRemove water from
- dry as a boneCompletely without moisture
- witherDry and decay
- wither awayGradually decline and vanish
- dry outLose moisture completely
dry up · dried out · shrink · shrink back · wilt · curl up · mummify · shrunken head · atrophy · waste away · wrinkle · desiccate · decay · turn to dust · crumple · prune · die back · contract
shrivel, shriveled, shriveling, shrivels, shrivelled, shrivelling