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
But the goods deficit with Canada shrank by 26% to $46 billion.
—
ABC News, 19 Feb. 2026
Since its founding, the Northfield Allotments have shrunk to a few acres, land siphoned off over the years by developers.
—Literary Hub, 19 Feb. 2026
As sales decline, Target has shrunk its workforce.
—Melissa Repko, CNBC, 18 Feb. 2026
That changed once the COVID-19 pandemic hit and his world shrunk.
—Alyssa Ramos, Miami Herald, 14 Feb. 2026
The outfield was shrunk, spicing up all games.
—Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Feb. 2026
Travel from Australia, India and Western Europe, among others, has also shrunk.
—Frédéric Dimanche, Fortune, 13 Feb. 2026
Yet under his rule, childhood vaccine schedules have shrunk and recommendations for certain shots have come to include fewer people.
—Joseph Choi, The Hill, 13 Feb. 2026
According to the report, 13 cities have shrunk by three weeks or more.
—Caitlin Looby, jsonline.com, 12 Feb. 2026
ABC News, 19 Feb. 2026
Since its founding, the Northfield Allotments have shrunk to a few acres, land siphoned off over the years by developers.
—Literary Hub, 19 Feb. 2026
As sales decline, Target has shrunk its workforce.
—Melissa Repko, CNBC, 18 Feb. 2026
That changed once the COVID-19 pandemic hit and his world shrunk.
—Alyssa Ramos, Miami Herald, 14 Feb. 2026
The outfield was shrunk, spicing up all games.
—Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Feb. 2026
Travel from Australia, India and Western Europe, among others, has also shrunk.
—Frédéric Dimanche, Fortune, 13 Feb. 2026
Yet under his rule, childhood vaccine schedules have shrunk and recommendations for certain shots have come to include fewer people.
—Joseph Choi, The Hill, 13 Feb. 2026
According to the report, 13 cities have shrunk by three weeks or more.
—Caitlin Looby, jsonline.com, 12 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shrank
Verb
-
Years of overzealous inversions had compressed his vertebrae, damaging his nerves so severely that risky, major surgery appeared to be the only solution.—
Mark Ellwood,
Robb Report,
14 Feb. 2026
-
Theoretically, the plasmas collide in the fusion chamber and are compressed by magnets around the machine.—
Jordan Blum,
Fortune,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
After decades of being kissed up to by massive government support, our fossil fuel industries recoiled against President Joe Biden’s support to grow our clean energy sector.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
10 Feb. 2026
-
Brendan Mcdermid | Reuters Software stocks on Thursday slid deeper into an ongoing intense sell-off this year as investors recoiled from the sector on growing fears that artificial intelligence could upend many firms' business models.—
Yun Li,
CNBC,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Our infrastructure has failed to meet the demands of rapid expansion, as evidenced by the 12-year neglect of Eastland, which resulted in job losses and decreased tax revenue.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
14 Feb. 2026
-
With regard to housing, incentives can be made available, lot sizes decreased, and alternative approaches are plentiful.—
Eleanor Dearman,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
14 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Boublil and Schonberg have condensed a novel of over 1,000 pages into a three-hour musical, so a brisk pace is needed to give audiences the gist of the story.—
Rob Hubbard,
Twin Cities,
18 Feb. 2026
-
Our conversation has been edited and condensed.—
Hannah Jocelyn,
New Yorker,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
But as his show became a pop culture punchline and an enduring ratings force, Povich says the person closest to him never flinched.—
Dave Quinn,
PEOPLE,
28 Jan. 2026
-
Adi flinched but passed it to him.—
Jonathan Miles,
Harpers Magazine,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Cortina Mayor Gianluca Lorenzi received death threats after centuries-old trees were felled to make way for a $131 million bobsledding track.—
The Week US,
TheWeek,
9 Feb. 2026
-
Afterward, Agnes and I were felled by the kind of hunger that overtakes only those who have exerted themselves in cold weather.—
Boris Fishman,
Travel + Leisure,
8 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
In Worcester, which lay more than 40 miles from the Charlestown line, a parched and dusty rider arrived at the square in front of the church, where his horse collapsed in exhaustion.—
Kostya Kennedy,
Time,
16 Feb. 2026
-
The front porch had also collapsed on the two-story, multi-family building.—
Forum News Service,
Twin Cities,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The issue became apparent at 4-4 in the third set, when Alcaraz winced after stretching for a volley and a match that had appeared a foregone conclusion spun on its axis.—
Charlie Eccleshare,
New York Times,
30 Jan. 2026
-
The hard-drinking, hyper-sensitive Fitzgerald himself would have winced at any of the five adaptations of The Great Gatsby.—
Peter Bart,
Deadline,
22 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shrank.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shrank. Accessed 21 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
