desiccate
verb
transitive verb
Elinor Wylieintransitive verb
J. Platt Bradbury et al. 
Did you know?
Raisins are desiccated grapes; they're also dehydrated grapes. And yet, a close look at the etymologies of desiccate and dehydrate raises a tangly question. In Latin siccus means "dry," whereas the Greek stem hydr- means "water." So how could it be that desiccate and dehydrate are synonyms? The answer is in the multiple identities of the prefix de-. It may look like the same prefix, but the de- in desiccate means "completely, thoroughly," as in despoil ("to spoil utterly") or denude ("to strip completely bare"). The de- in dehydrate, on the other hand, means "remove," the same as it does in defoliate ("to strip of leaves") or in deice ("to rid of ice").
Synonyms
- castrate
- damp
- dampen
- deaden
- dehydrate
- devitalize
- enervate
- geld
- lobotomize
- petrify
Example Sentences
Wired, 21 July 2022 Edward is in the grip of a grotesque malady that causes his flesh to desiccate and slough away. Sam Sacks, WSJ, 17 June 2022 But the winds also desiccate vegetation and create dangerous wildfire conditions. Los Angeles Times, 11 Nov. 2021 At shallow depths, the eggs would cook and desiccate. Ed Yong, The Atlantic, 25 June 2021 Comparatively, the cremated young adult was burned before their body had begun to desiccate and decompose. Alex Fox, Smithsonian Magazine, 17 Aug. 2020 Here, volcanic lakes, acid pools, desiccated basins, and subterranean caverns are no match for biology. Nadia Drake, National Geographic, 26 Aug. 2019 These efforts to resurrect pieces of the delta’s desiccated ecosystems face major challenges, including limited funds, scarce water supplies, and the hotter, drier conditions brought on by climate change. Ian James, AZCentral.com, 19 Apr. 2020 A few weeks later, a reporter found Rippee at a Vallejo strip mall, asleep on a patch of concrete littered with dirty socks and desiccated orange peels. Jocelyn Wiener, SFChronicle.com, 4 Jan. 2020 See More Word History
Latin desiccatus, past participle of desiccare to dry up, from de- + siccare to dry, from siccus dry — more at sack
1575, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1
Medical Definition
desiccate
verb
transitive verb
Bettyann Hutchisson et al. intransitive verb
desiccate
verb
Synonyms & Similar Words
- undermine
- dehydrate
- petrify
- drain
- weaken
- damp
- exhaust
- devitalize
- castrate
- enervate
- wear
- deaden
- lobotomize
- dampen
- geld
- discourage
- sap
- debilitate
- enfeeble
- fatigue
- burn out
- wear out
- dispirit
- dishearten
- daunt
- demoralize
- tucker (out)
- do in
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- stimulate
- energize
- vitalize
- invigorate
- enliven
- vivify
- quicken
- stir
- rouse
- arouse
- ferment
- provoke
- electrify
- brace
- galvanize
- excite
- incite
- charge
- inflame
- fire
- regenerate
- foment
- inspire
- fortify
- revive
- resurrect
- instigate
- whip (up)
- spark
- lift
- trigger
- reactivate
- resuscitate
- kindle
- reanimate
- renew
- revitalize
- rejuvenate
- refresh
- cheer
- abet
- embolden
- hearten
- boost
- enflame
- reawaken
- recharge
- rekindle
- buoy
- reenergize
- reawake
Synonyms & Similar Words
- dry
- dehydrate
- parch
- scorch
- bake
- evaporate
- dehumidify
- mummify
- drain
- shrivel
- sear
- wither
- wizen
- air-dry
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- wet
- wash
- water
- saturate
- hydrate
- soak
- drown
- moisten
- bathe
- damp
- drench
- inundate
- flood
- dampen
- overflow
- waterlog
- douse
- humidify
- dowse
- rehydrate
- deluge
- swamp
- sop
- dip
- souse
- dunk
- submerge