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

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.

Some 1.47 million people are displaced in gang-ravaged Haiti, the United Nations' migration agency said Friday, warning that its ability to help could dry up within months.

From Barron's • Jun. 5, 2026

As movie studios merge, budgets shrink and big jobs dry up, outside jobs are a financial reality for talent—and some present a hard-to-resist seven- or eight-figure allure.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 4, 2026

Some said they couldn't find work, while others saw their income dry up after the authorities restricted the internet when the war started, suffocating industries and workers that relied on connecting to the global web.

From Barron's • Apr. 30, 2026

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

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 11, 2026

But when the Central Valley started to dry up and the price of produce skyrocketed, people started to pay attention.

From "Dry" by Neal Shusterman and Jarrod Shusterman

dry up

Example Sentences

Related Words