Dessicated vs. Desiccated — Which is Correct Spelling?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on April 3, 2024
"Dessicated" is incorrect; "Desiccated" is the right spelling, referring to something dried out.
Table of Contents
Which is correct: Dessicated or Desiccated
How to spell Desiccated?
Dessicated
Incorrect Spelling
Desiccated
Correct Spelling
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Key Differences
Remember the word "desert," which is dry, has one 's' in the middle, just like "Desiccated."
Think of "Desiccated" as "Dried," both starting with the letter 'D' and having only one 's'.
Link "Desiccated" to "De-sic-cated." Break it into three parts to remember the single 's'.
Recall “Desiccant,” a drying agent, also spelled with one ‘s’.
Picture a single 's' as a dried snake in the desert to solidify "Desiccated."
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How Do You Spell Desiccated Correctly?
Incorrect: The dessicated leaves crunched underfoot.
Correct: The desiccated leaves crunched underfoot.
Incorrect: They used dessicated coconut in the recipe.
Correct: They used desiccated coconut in the recipe.
Incorrect: The soil was completely dessicated by the sun.
Correct: The soil was completely desiccated by the sun.
Incorrect: The museum displayed a dessicated mummy from ancient Egypt.
Correct: The museum displayed a desiccated mummy from ancient Egypt.
Incorrect: A dessicated frog was found near the dried pond.
Correct: A desiccated frog was found near the dried pond.
Desiccated Definitions
Having had all water removed.
The desiccated coconut is perfect for baking.
Drained of emotional or intellectual vitality.
He felt desiccated after the rigorous debate.
Preserved by removing natural juices through drying.
The museum displayed desiccated specimens.
Lacking vitality or animation; arid.
The novel's desiccated prose failed to engage readers.
To dry out thoroughly.
To preserve (foods) by removing the moisture.
To make dry, dull, or lifeless
"Stalinism desiccated the grassroots of urban government" (Timothy J. Colton).
To become dry; dry out.
Lacking spirit or animation; arid
"There was only the sun-bruised and desiccate feeling in his mind" (J.R. Salamanca).
Simple past tense and past participle of desiccate
Dried
Thoroughly dried out;
Old boxes of desiccated Cuban cigars
Dried-out boards beginning to split
Preserved by removing natural moisture;
Dried beef
Dried fruit
Dehydrated eggs
Shredded and desiccated coconut meat
Lacking vitality or spirit; lifeless;
A technically perfect but arid performance of the sonata
A desiccate romance
A prissy and emotionless creature...settles into a mold of desiccated snobbery
Dried up or devoid of moisture.
The desiccated fruit retained its flavor.
Desiccated Meaning in a Sentence
Desiccated fruit is a healthy snack option.
He found a desiccated leaf inside the old book.
Farmers worried about their desiccated crops during the drought.
She dislikes the texture of desiccated coconut in desserts.
Desiccated seaweed is used in many Asian dishes.
She sprinkled desiccated coconut on top of the cake.
The hot weather had desiccated the lakebed.
Desiccated coconut is often used in chocolate bars.
The desiccated air in the desert can be harsh on the skin.
They used desiccated liver pills as a dietary supplement.
In the lab, they desiccated samples to preserve them for study.
The desiccated husk of the corn was all that remained.
He enjoyed eating desiccated mango as a treat.
The desiccated landscape was a challenge for photographers.
The desiccated remains were examined by archaeologists.
Their food supplies included desiccated vegetables for the journey.
The heatwave left the soil desiccated and cracked.
The desiccated skin of the fruit indicated it was ripe.
Their desiccated earnings didn't leave much for luxuries.
The desiccated body was preserved for centuries in the cave.
The desiccated corpse indicated the person had died years ago.
A desiccated flower pressed in a diary was found.
The desiccated petals were kept in a sachet.
Using desiccated herbs can enhance the flavor of the dish.
Desiccated Idioms & Phrases
A desiccated sense of humor
Dry or sarcastic humor.
His desiccated sense of humor often went over people's heads.
Desiccated remains
The dried out remains of something once living.
The archaeologists carefully studied the desiccated remains found in the tomb.
Desiccated by the sun
Dried out due to intense sun exposure.
The leaves were desiccated by the sun, crumbling at the slightest touch.
Desiccated soul
Describing someone who feels emotionally or spiritually drained.
He felt like a desiccated soul, devoid of any passion for life after the tragedy.
Common Curiosities
What is the pronunciation of Desiccated?
It is pronounced as /ˈdɛsɪˌkeɪtɪd/.
What is the singular form of Desiccated?
"Desiccated" itself is an adjective, so it does not have a singular or plural form. However, the singular verb form is "desiccate."
Which vowel is used before Desiccated?
The context is required for this question. Generally, any vowel can precede the word based on the sentence.
What is the root word of Desiccated?
The root word is "desiccare."
What is the plural form of Desiccated?
As an adjective, "desiccated" doesn't have a plural form. However, nouns modified by it can be plural.
Is Desiccated a noun or adjective?
"Desiccated" is an adjective.
Is Desiccated an abstract noun?
No, "desiccated" is not an abstract noun.
Why is it called Desiccated?
It is called "desiccated" because it derives from the Latin word "desiccare" which means "to dry up."
What is the verb form of Desiccated?
The verb form is "desiccate."
Which article is used with Desiccated?
Both "a" and "the" can be used with "desiccated" depending on context.
Is Desiccated a negative or positive word?
"Desiccated" is neutral in itself, but can be seen as negative depending on context.
Is Desiccated a vowel or consonant?
"Desiccated" is a word, not a single letter, so it contains both vowels and consonants.
Which preposition is used with Desiccated?
The most common preposition used with "desiccated" is "of," as in "desiccated pieces of fruit."
Is Desiccated an adverb?
No, "desiccated" is not an adverb.
Is the Desiccated term a metaphor?
No, but it can be used metaphorically in some contexts.
Is the word Desiccated imperative?
No, "desiccated" is not in the imperative form.
Which conjunction is used with Desiccated?
Any conjunction can be used with "desiccated" based on the context of the sentence.
Is the word “Desiccated” a Direct object or an Indirect object?
"Desiccated" is an adjective and doesn't serve as a direct or indirect object. A noun it modifies might serve such a role.
What part of speech is Desiccated?
"Desiccated" is an adjective.
What is another term for Desiccated?
Another term for "desiccated" is "dried."
Is the word Desiccated a gerund?
No, "desiccated" is not a gerund.
What is the stressed syllable in Desiccated?
The second syllable, "sic," is stressed.
Which determiner is used with Desiccated?
Determiners like "the," "a," "some," or "any" can be used with "desiccated" depending on context.
What is the third form of Desiccated?
The third form is also "desiccated."
Is Desiccated a countable noun?
"Desiccated" is not a noun; it's an adjective.
Is Desiccated a collective noun?
No, "desiccated" is not a collective noun.
What is the opposite of Desiccated?
The opposite of "desiccated" is "hydrated" or "moist."
What is the first form of Desiccated?
The first form is "desiccate."
What is the second form of Desiccated?
The second form is "desiccated."
How is Desiccated used in a sentence?
"The intense sun desiccated the soil, leaving it parched and cracked."
How many syllables are in Desiccated?
There are four syllables in "desiccated."
How do we divide Desiccated into syllables?
De-sic-cat-ed.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
