desiccated

adjective

des·​ic·​cat·​ed ˈde-si-ˌkā-təd How to pronounce desiccated (audio)
1
: dried up
a desiccated landscape
: preserved by drying
a cup of desiccated coconut
… all around were barrels of dried apples and apricots, shriveled and desiccatedMargaret Laurence
… when visitors come to the lab he likes to show them his collection of curiosities, which includes a desiccated octopus.Elizabeth Kolbert
2
: drained of emotional or intellectual vigor or vitality
Singer's utilitarianism is so dry and desiccated that it drains the drama from philosophy.George F. Will

Examples of desiccated in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Much like tardigrades, lichens can stay in a desiccated state for extended periods until they are rehydrated. Elizabeth Rayne, ArsTechnica, 19 Apr. 2025 The glue is decomposing; the desiccated clippings, when touched, turn to dust. The Learning Network, New York Times, 18 Mar. 2025 The actors to some degree counter that shortage of feeling, especially Mackey in a largely internalized performance, but the movie is desiccated, unyielding. David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 14 Feb. 2025 Driven by hurricane force winds, the fires quickly roared through a desiccated landscape. Tom Yulsman, Discover Magazine, 31 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for desiccated

Word History

First Known Use

1670, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of desiccated was in 1670

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Cite this Entry

“Desiccated.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/desiccated. Accessed 23 Apr. 2025.

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