shrink

1
as in to compress
to become smaller in size or volume through the drawing together of particles of matter the sweater will shrink a little when washed

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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Synonym Chooser

How is the word shrink different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of shrink are compress, condense, constrict, contract, and deflate. While all these words mean "to decrease in bulk or volume," shrink implies a contracting or a loss of material and stresses a falling short of original dimensions.

the sweater will shrink when washed

When would compress be a good substitute for shrink?

The meanings of compress and shrink largely overlap; however, compress implies a pressing into a small compass and definite shape usually against resistance.

compressed cotton into bales

When might condense be a better fit than shrink?

The synonyms condense and shrink are sometimes interchangeable, but condense implies a reducing of something homogeneous to greater compactness without significant loss of content.

condense the essay into a paragraph

When could constrict be used to replace shrink?

Although the words constrict and shrink have much in common, constrict implies a tightening that reduces diameter.

the throat is constricted by a tight collar

When can contract be used instead of shrink?

The words contract and shrink can be used in similar contexts, but contract applies to a drawing together of surfaces or particles or a reduction of area or length.

caused her muscles to contract

In what contexts can deflate take the place of shrink?

While the synonyms deflate and shrink are close in meaning, deflate implies a contracting by reducing the internal pressure of contained air or gas.

deflate the balloon

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of shrink On Thursday, the board also cut its own budget by $122,000 by shrinking travel and sponsorship money. David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 June 2025 His client is willing to rip out the lawn, replant wetland grasses, shrink the patio, move the kayak stand, improve stormwater drainage, and otherwise return the property to its former condition or better. Andrew Rice, Curbed, 26 June 2025 Read more Intel will reportedly shut down its automotive business The latest step to shrink a U.S. chipmaking icon is imminent. Andrew Nusca, Fortune, 26 June 2025 Because of rising wage inequality, more and more earnings have become concentrated above this tax limit and the tax base for Social Security has shrunk as a result, as my colleagues and I already discussed about a decade ago. Christian Weller, Forbes.com, 18 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for shrink
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shrink
Verb
  • In theory, this could help spotlight Alto Adige’s remarkable vineyard diversity - granite slopes, volcanic porphyry, glacial moraines - all compressed into just under 6,000 hectares of fragmented vineyards, layered across extreme altitudes.
    Paul Caputo, Forbes.com, 3 July 2025
  • Burnout is a potential trade-off If your workload is heavy, compressing it into fewer days can backfire.
    Julia Sullivan, USA Today, 27 June 2025
Verb
  • Judge Subramanian didn’t flinch, siding with the government.
    Danielle Bacher, People.com, 3 July 2025
  • When the conversation turned to the metaphorical messes — like heartbreak — the 54-year-old didn’t flinch.
    Amber Corrine, VIBE.com, 3 July 2025
Verb
  • Following Monday's trade, Jim Cramer's Charitable Trust will own 220 shares of GS, decreasing its weighting to about 4.35% from about 4.75%.
    Jeff Marks, CNBC, 7 July 2025
  • Revenue has remained relatively stagnant, decreasing slightly from $153 million to $152 million over the past year.
    Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 7 July 2025
Verb
  • This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
    Christian Allaire, Vogue, 1 July 2025
  • This interview has been condensed and edited for clarity.
    Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, semafor.com, 27 June 2025
Verb
  • Dakota Johnson is more charming than usual here but moves like someone whose feet have never touched the ground, who has never winced looking at a bill.
    Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 25 June 2025
  • Spieth struggled throughout his opening round and was seen wincing in pain several times, even losing hold of a club.
    Kendall Capps, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 June 2025
Verb
  • The best wrinkle creams on Amazon prove that drugstore prices don't diminish efficacy.
    Kiana Murden, Vogue, 8 July 2025
  • Eggs may not be quite so extreme, since the bird flu problem is expected to diminish.
    Jan Ellen Spiegel, Hartford Courant, 7 July 2025
Verb
  • Remove any watches, rings or jewelry that could constrict swelling.
    Hannah Poukish, Sacbee.com, 29 June 2025
  • The cold water can constrict the blood vessels, which can lead to a decrease in blood flow to the heart.
    Maryal Miller Carter, USA Today, 20 June 2025
Verb
  • Democrats have already recoiled at the anti-Muslim attacks he’s faced since Tuesday, and the nervous backroom meetings of wealthy people who want to stop him.
    David Weigel, semafor.com, 27 June 2025
  • In a fragmented health-care system like that of the United States, such studies are also commercially treacherous: investors recoil from timelines this long and outcomes this uncertain.
    Siddhartha Mukherjee, New Yorker, 16 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Shrink.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shrink. Accessed 14 Jul. 2025.

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