: deprived of natural moisture
parched land
also : thirsty
He was parched after the long hike.

Examples of parched in a Sentence

Could I have some water? I'm parched.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Residents and hikers first saw it as a modest brush fire looming in the parched scrubland. Jon Schuppe, NBC News, 11 Jan. 2025 The winds will die down, and rain will eventually return to Southern California, but this one-two punch of high wind and parched landscapes will recur and intensify in the future. Kylie Mohr, WIRED, 21 Dec. 2024 The region has been experiencing a painful dry spell that is among the most parched starts to a winter on record, a major reason the fire risk is so high. Andrea Chang, Los Angeles Times, 15 Jan. 2025 During parched periods, there is less water available to dilute the system and flush out the salt, while rising seas push salt into the watershed, a process known as saltwater intrusion. Ars Technica, 19 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for parched

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1552, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of parched was circa 1552

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Parched.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/parched. Accessed 28 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

parched

adjective
: deprived of natural moisture
parched hillsides
also : thirsty
parched hikers

More from Merriam-Webster on parched

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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