variants
or shrunk
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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in recoiled
to draw back in fear, pain, or disgust
shrinking back from the approaching flames
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 shrank
Layoffs that year shrunk the payroll to just 62 of the formerly 158 employees and threw the future of fairgrounds into question.
—
Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Apr. 2026
Nothing directly came from these meetings, at least nothing that shrunk the project.
—Matthew Geiger, Denver Post, 14 Apr. 2026
The Hollywood workforce has shrunk by more than 42,000 jobs between 2022 and 2024, according to a recent study.
—Meg James, Los Angeles Times, 13 Apr. 2026
Jack was accepted into a chemotherapy drug trial, and on April 7, his family learned that his tumor had shrunk considerably.
—Cara Lynn Shultz, PEOPLE, 10 Apr. 2026
The retail landscape shrunk, and the remaining stores mostly bought from the same 12 brands.
—Angela Velasquez, Footwear News, 8 Apr. 2026
The tax grew and hospitals’ share of federal funds shrank.
—Keith M. Phaneuf, Hartford Courant, 8 Apr. 2026
What was a gap of 9 percentage points for the 2020 election had shrunk to just 3 in 2022.
—Hansi Lo Wang, NPR, 8 Apr. 2026
But during March, the four-time league MVP’s role shrunk in comparison to Doncic and Reaves.
—Benjamin Royer, Oc Register, 6 Apr. 2026
Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Apr. 2026
Nothing directly came from these meetings, at least nothing that shrunk the project.
—Matthew Geiger, Denver Post, 14 Apr. 2026
The Hollywood workforce has shrunk by more than 42,000 jobs between 2022 and 2024, according to a recent study.
—Meg James, Los Angeles Times, 13 Apr. 2026
Jack was accepted into a chemotherapy drug trial, and on April 7, his family learned that his tumor had shrunk considerably.
—Cara Lynn Shultz, PEOPLE, 10 Apr. 2026
The retail landscape shrunk, and the remaining stores mostly bought from the same 12 brands.
—Angela Velasquez, Footwear News, 8 Apr. 2026
The tax grew and hospitals’ share of federal funds shrank.
—Keith M. Phaneuf, Hartford Courant, 8 Apr. 2026
What was a gap of 9 percentage points for the 2020 election had shrunk to just 3 in 2022.
—Hansi Lo Wang, NPR, 8 Apr. 2026
But during March, the four-time league MVP’s role shrunk in comparison to Doncic and Reaves.
—Benjamin Royer, Oc Register, 6 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shrank
Verb
-
The attached marathon seasons, compressed offseasons and challenging schedules that came with that stature also included generally being relegated to the posterior of the draft.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
17 Apr. 2026
-
Fortune’s own reporting found that even as AI has compressed what used to take eight hours into as little as two, executives aren’t sending workers home early.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
13 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Investors recoiled out of fears of an endless quagmire.—
Jake Angelo,
Fortune,
2 Apr. 2026
-
When Paramount debuted a first look at the film in 2019, online commentators recoiled at the speedy hedgehog’s human teeth and odd facial features.—
Angelique Jackson,
Variety,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Brent crude, the global benchmark, decreased to just more than $91 per barrel Friday afternoon after reaching lower to $89 earlier in the day.—
Ryan Mancini,
The Hill,
17 Apr. 2026
-
Though the number of deadly attacks by separatists has decreased in recent years, the conflict shows no sign of resolution.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
This interview has been edited and condensed.—
Jennifer Maas,
Variety,
16 Apr. 2026
-
The following interview excerpts have been edited and condensed for length and clarity.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Gorajski flinched and ducked out of the way like Cisek was an incoming meteor.—
Tony Baranek,
Chicago Tribune,
3 Apr. 2026
-
Her coach never flinched, as Kara Lawson basked in the joy of winning such a big game in a city that has embraced her.—
Joe Davidson
March 27,
Sacbee.com,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
In the piece, the Vicar of Christ is felled not by his oppressors but rather by a random cosmic event.—
Brian Boucher,
ARTnews.com,
16 Apr. 2026
-
Jeff Shell, now felled from his presidency of Paramount, is living proof.—
Gary Baum,
HollywoodReporter,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Bulgaria's previous conservative government collapsed in December after nationwide anti-corruption protests drew hundreds of thousands of mainly young people to the streets.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
20 Apr. 2026
-
The climax hit, and as every Phish fan knows, nearly collapsed the song before Anastasio brought the chicky-chicky guitar back in.—
Jeff Miller,
Rolling Stone,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Internally, some employees winced as the prices of some chips surpassed $7.—
Wire TBD,
Dallas Morning News,
8 Apr. 2026
-
Internally, some employees winced as the prices of some chips surpassed $7.—
Bloomberg,
Oc Register,
7 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shrank.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shrank. Accessed 23 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
