Synonyms of shrank

shrank

verb

variants or shrunk

past tense of shrink

1

as in compressed

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

• compressed
• decreased
• condensed
• collapsed
• constricted
• contracted
• flattened
• withdrew
• retreated
• diminished
• dwindled
• receded
• lessened
• shriveled
• withered
• dried up
• deflated
• abated
• wilted

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• swelled
• expanded
• increased
• grew
• ballooned
• accumulated
• snowballed
• inflated
• puffed (up)
• ballooned

2

as in recoiled

to draw back in fear, pain, or disgust

shrinking back from the approaching flames

Synonyms & Similar Words

• recoiled
• flinched
• winced
• cringed
• shuddered
• trembled
• hesitated
• shook
• quailed
• blenched
• paled
• quivered
• retreated
• withdrew
• squinched
• blanched
• crouched
• receded
• quaked
• whitened
• faltered
• twitched
• jerked
• reeled
• wavered
• started
• retired

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• approached
• advanced
• faced
• confronted
• neared
• challenged
• defied
• bearded

3

as in decreased

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 & Similar Words

• decreased
• fell
• diminished
• subsided
• eased
• declined
• vanished
• ebbed
• dwindled
• receded
• waned
• lessened
• lowered
• dropped (off)
• tapered
• relented
• weakened
• died (away or down or out)
• moderated
• palled
• drained (away)
• evaporated
• fell away
• tapered off
• abated
• remitted
• let up
• ratcheted (down)
• compressed
• phased down
• racheted (down)
• contracted
• de-escalated
• constricted
• slackened
• condensed
• collapsed
• alleviated
• faded (away)
• melted (away)
• slowed (down)
• sank
• relaxed
• petered (out)
• frittered (away)
• tailed (off)
• gave out
• flagged
• deflated
• caved (in)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• increased
• grew
• rose
• built
• expanded
• swelled
• enlarged
• mounted
• intensified
• soared
• accumulated
• escalated
• appeared
• waxed
• picked up
• emerged
• ballooned
• mushroomed
• burgeoned
• snowballed
• showed up
• lengthened
• elongated
• distended
• blew up

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of shrank

The bank’s workforce has shrunk by 79,000 people over the past six years. — Catherine Muccigrosso july 15, Charlotte Observer, 15 July 2026

Florida’s working-age population — those between 18 and 64 — is estimated to have shrunk between 2023 and 2025, reducing the size of the state’s workforce, according to recent projections from the Florida Chamber of Commerce. — Max Klaver, Miami Herald, 15 July 2026

Yet although the fish shrank, the smiles of the people in the photographs stayed the same size. — Literary Hub, 15 July 2026

Over the years, the imperial family has shrunk and aged so much that performing royal duties has become a struggle. — Hanako Montgomery, CNN Money, 14 July 2026

Film industry titans like Polaroid and Kodak had shrunk dramatically from their heyday, becoming shells of their former selves. — Rotem Rozental, Fortune, 14 July 2026

While these moving vignettes carry the weight of history, Barrois has shrunk them down to miniature size. — Maximilíano Durón, ARTnews.com, 14 July 2026

The technology finally shrunk to small enough dimensions in the early 2010s when first GPS dog trackers entered the market. — Tereza Pultarova, Space.com, 11 July 2026

And somewhere while building all of that, the ambition behind it shrank to fit a spreadsheet. — Jonathan Weeks, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026