parched

1 of 2

adjective

ˈpärcht How to pronounce parched (audio)
Synonyms of parched
: deprived of natural moisture
parched land
also : thirsty
He was parched after the long hike.

parched

2 of 2

past tense and past participle of parch

Examples of parched in a Sentence

Adjective Could I have some water? I'm parched.
Recent Examples on the Web
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Adjective
There are many routes that can take you east from the 395 and deep into the parched heart of these landscapes, but there is one route that stands above the rest. — Josh Jackson, Los Angeles Times, 29 Oct. 2026 After a few parched years Arizona was bailed out by the federal government, which built a reservoir so the people of the Salt River Valley would never again experience privation. — Gaby Del Valle, The Verge, 29 Oct. 2026 Earlier Monday, some residents returned to find their homes leveled by wildfires that erupted across a parched landscape over the weekend, covering yards in charred debris. — ABC News, 4 Aug. 2026 Soothe parched skin with this lightweight moisturizer, which includes niacinamide and squalane to reduce moisture loss by protecting your skin barrier. — Sian Babish, PEOPLE, 1 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for parched

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

circa 1552, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of parched was circa 1552

Rhymes for parched

See All Rhymes for parched

Browse Nearby Words

parch
parched
parchedness
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Parched.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/parched. Accessed 1 Nov. 2026.

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Kids Definition

parched

adjective
ˈpärcht How to pronounce parched (audio)
: deprived of natural moisture
parched hillsides
also : thirsty
parched hikers

More from Merriam-Webster on parched

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for parched

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