shrink

1 to become smaller in size or volume through the drawing together of particles of matter <the sweater will shrink a little when washed> Synonyms compress, condense, constrict, contractRelated Words collapse, deflate, flatten; dry up, shrivel, wilt, wither; abate, decrease, diminish, dwindle, lessen; recede, retreat, withdrawNear Antonyms accumulate, grow, increase; balloon, inflate, puff (up)Antonyms balloon, expand, snowball, swell

2 to draw back in fear, pain, or disgust <shrinking back from the approaching flames> Synonyms blench, cringe, quail, recoil, flinch, squinch, winceRelated Words blanch, pale, whiten; quake, quiver, shake, shudder, tremble; crouch; jerk, start, twitch; recede, retire, retreat, withdraw; falter, hesitate, reel, waverNear Antonyms advance, approach, near; beard, challenge, confront, defy, face

3 to grow less in scope or intensity especially gradually <his crush on her is likely to shrink after they start their new lives on different college campuses> Synonyms abate, decline, de-escalate, die (away or down or out), diminish, drain (away), drop (off), dwindle, ease, ebb, fall, fall away, lessen, let up, lower, moderate, pall, phase down, ratchet (down) also rachet (down), recede, relent, remit, decrease, subside, taper, taper off, waneRelated Words compress, condense, constrict, contract; evaporate, fade (away), fritter (away), give out, melt (away), peter (out), tail (off), vanish; slacken, slow (down); alleviate, relax; flag, sink, weaken; cave (in), collapse, deflateNear Antonyms appear, emerge, show up; blow up, distend, elongate, lengthenAntonyms accumulate, balloon, build, burgeon (also bourgeon), enlarge, escalate, expand, grow, increase, intensify, mount, mushroom, pick up, rise, snowball, soar, swell, wax