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

But in 2021, Premier League clubs lost access to that exception and this shrunk the market by 95 per cent. — Jordan Campbell, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2026

Hybrid work increased slightly while fully remote work shrank slightly; average remote hours slipped only from 27 to 26 hours over the measured period. — Gleb Tsipursky, Washington Post, 11 Sep. 2026

But depressions and debris littering Mercury's landscape from new impact craters have covered up such wrinkles, thus obscuring just how much the planet has shrunk, the researchers said in a press release announcing their findings. — Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2026

So our stories have shrunk accordingly; the stakes become professional competence, emotional regulation, and endurance. — Henry Metz, Rolling Stone, 11 Sep. 2026

Mercury has likely shrunk more than any other planet because its core is much larger relative to the planet’s size than other rocky worlds in our solar system, Bernhardt said. — Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 10 Sep. 2026

Sales shrank last year after a drop-off in Canadian tourists hammered business at farmers’ markets and fairs, Denniston said. — Max Zahn, ABC News, 9 Sep. 2026

Studios have shrunk budgets, major production houses have cut staff, and fewer projects are reaching the finish line. — Justin Birnbaum, HollywoodReporter, 9 Sep. 2026

Ticket prices kept climbing, so revenue held up while the audience shrank. — Daren Smith, IndieWire, 9 Sep. 2026