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Definitions

dry up

VERB
decrease
Synonyms
STRONGEST
abate curb curtail cut down decline depreciate deteriorate diminish drop drop off dwindle ease ebb fall off lessen lower reduce shrink sink slacken slash slump soften subside wane weaken
STRONG
check contract crumble decay degenerate devaluate droop evaporate fade lighten modify quell quiet restrain settle shrivel waste wither
WEAK
calm down die down let up lose edge narrow down peter out run low slack off slow down tail off wear away wear down
Antonyms
STRONGEST
ascend compliment develop enlarge expand extend go up grow improve increase irritate laud lengthen praise prolong raise rise strengthen
STRONG
build liberate upset
WEAK
add
VERB
dehydrate
Synonyms
STRONGEST
dry out
STRONG
desiccate drain dry evaporate exsiccate parch sear
WEAK
cotton-mouth
Antonyms
STRONG
dampen moisten soak wet
WEAK
hydrate
VERB
deplete
Synonyms
STRONGEST
bankrupt decrease diminish drain empty expend impoverish lessen reduce sap squander undermine use up weaken
STRONG
bleed draw evacuate finish milk spend waste
WEAK
dig into suck dry wash up
Antonyms
STRONGEST
develop enlarge expand extend fill grow increase raise save strengthen
STRONG
hoard
WEAK
add augment give
VERB
desiccate
Synonyms
STRONG
dehydrate deplete devitalize divest drain dry evaporate exsiccate parch sear shrivel wither
WEAK
anhydrate wizen
Antonyms
STRONG
dampen expand fill grow moisten soak wet
WEAK
moisturize
VERB
exsiccate
Synonyms
STRONG
dehydrate desiccate evaporate parch
WEAK
dry out
Antonyms
STRONG
dampen moisten wet
VERB
mummify
Synonyms
STRONG
preserve
VERB
muzzle
Synonyms
STRONGEST
censor choke clamp down on crack down on muffle repress restrain squelch stifle suppress
STRONG
check cork curb hush ice prevent quieten restrict shush silence squash still stop tongue-tie trammel
WEAK
bottle up dummy up shut down
Antonyms
STRONGEST
allow encourage let go permit release
STRONG
aid assist free help
WEAK
liberate
VERB
parch
Synonyms
STRONGEST
evaporate scorch sear
STRONG
blister brown dehydrate desiccate exsiccate shrivel stale wither
WEAK
make thirsty
Antonyms
STRONG
grow moisten wet
WEAK
dampen
VERB
peter out
Synonyms
STRONGEST
abate die out ebb evaporate fade recede tail away tail off taper off wane
WEAK
come to nothing die down diminish drain fail give out lessen run dry run low run out slack off stop
Antonyms
STRONGEST
increase rise
WEAK
grow
VERB
quieten
Synonyms
STRONG
clam dampen deaden dull extinguish gag hush lull muffle mute muzzle overawe quash quell quiet shush soft pedal squelch stifle still subdue suppress tongue-tie
WEAK
choke off clam up close up cool it cut off cut short decrease the volume dumb dummy up hold one's tongue hush one's mouth hush-hush keep it down pipe down quiet down say nothing shut up sit on strike dumb
Antonyms
STRONG
agitate allow disturb encourage help irritate let go release start
VERB
run out
Synonyms
STRONGEST
depart exhaust expire finish go lose tire waste weaken
WEAK
be cleaned out be out of cease close come to a close dissipate end give out have no more have none left peter out stop terminate waste away wear out
Antonyms
STRONGEST
begin commence invigorate keep maintain refresh save start stay
WEAK
get have succeed supply
VERB
sear
Synonyms
STRONGEST
blight scorch sizzle toast
STRONG
brand brown cauterize cook dehydrate desiccate exsiccate harden parch seal shrivel tan wilt wither
WEAK
burn up dry out
Antonyms
STRONG
bloom grow moisten wet
WEAK
freeze
VERB
shush
Synonyms
STRONG
clam dampen deaden dull extinguish gag hush lull muffle mute muzzle overawe quash quell quiet quieten soft pedal squelch stifle still subdue suppress tongue-tie
WEAK
choke off clam up close up cool it cut off cut short decrease the volume dumb dummy up hold one's tongue hush one's mouth hush-hush keep it down pipe down quiet down say nothing shut up sit on strike dumb
Antonyms
STRONG
agitate allow disturb encourage help irritate let go release start
VERB
shut up
Synonyms
WEAK
bottle up choke dummy up fall silent gag hold tongue hush keep trap shut muzzle pipe down quiet quieten quit chattering shush silence soft pedal still stop talking
Antonyms
WEAK
speak talk
VERB
silence
Synonyms
STRONGEST
cut off gag muffle mute muzzle quash quell squelch stifle subdue suppress
STRONG
clam dampen deaden dull extinguish hush lull overawe quiet quieten shush soft pedal still tongue-tie
WEAK
choke off clam up close up cool it cut short decrease the volume dumb dummy up hold one's tongue hush one's mouth hush-hush keep it down pipe down quiet down say nothing shut up sit on strike dumb
Antonyms
STRONGEST
allow encourage help let go permit release start
WEAK
be noisy communicate talk
VERB
stifle
Synonyms
STRONGEST
curb muzzle repress silence smother squelch strangle suffocate suppress
STRONG
asphyxiate burke check choke constipate cork extinguish gag hush kill muffle spike squash stagnate stop stultify torpedo trammel
WEAK
black out bring to screeching halt choke back clam up clamp down cover up crack down hold it down hush up put the lid on shut up sit on
Antonyms
STRONGEST
allow encourage free let go loose release
STRONG
aid assist bear begin create help start
WEAK
persuade
VERB
wilt
Synonyms
STRONGEST
cave in diminish droop dwindle ebb fade faint melt shrivel succumb wane wither
STRONG
collapse drop flag languish mummify sink waste weaken
WEAK
become limp break down give out waste away wizen
Antonyms
STRONGEST
develop enlarge expand extend grow increase rise
STRONG
build strengthen
WEAK
bloom
VERB
wither
Synonyms
STRONGEST
atrophy decay deflate deteriorate disintegrate dry fade languish perish shrink shrivel wane wilt
STRONG
blast blight collapse constrict contract desiccate die fold waste
WEAK
become stale waste away wizen
Antonyms
STRONGEST
build develop enlarge expand flourish grow improve rise strengthen
STRONG
free increase loosen
WEAK
bloom

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The fountain, by the way, didn’t just dry up yesterday.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 11, 2026

Over the last 18 months, donations had begun to dry up yet demand still remained high, he said.

From BBC • Apr. 10, 2026

Inflows to private funds could dry up in coming months as wealth managers balk at committing client cash to them, given negative headlines about private credit and the ability to buy similar cheaper public funds.

From Barron's • Mar. 20, 2026

Late last year, after her design work for environmental organizations began to dry up, Hill decided to step up her side gig.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 1, 2026

“When it gets over a hundred,” she said, “the flowers dry up and there’s no food for the bees. They stay in the hives fanning themselves. Sometimes they just roast.”

From "The Secret Life of Bees" by Sue Monk Kidd