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

That debt has not shrunk to match the smaller population now paying for it. — Lisa Nee, Chicago Tribune, 13 Aug. 2026

That is the uncomfortable reading for the Western and Japanese incumbents still counting on combustion sales in China, whose presence in the top ten has shrunk to one aging gasoline sedan. — Jon Markman, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026

Google is keeping this distinctive design element, but the bar has shrunk considerably on the base model. — ArsTechnica, 12 Aug. 2026

Advocates say prevention resources have shrunk The rise in filings is happening as help for homeowners facing foreclosure has become harder to get, advocates said. — Nora O'Neill, Charlotte Observer, 11 Aug. 2026

So while Mercury isn’t visibly getting smaller from year to year, geological evidence shows that the planet has shrunk as its interior cooled. — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 11 Aug. 2026

As the Sparks rallied and got within a single point in the fourth quarter, the Valkyries would need every one of them as their 19-point lead shrunk to one. — Marisa Ingemi, Mercury News, 10 Aug. 2026

Arctic sea ice has shrunk by about a third since the early 1980s, according to figures from the National Snow and Ice Data Center. — Henry Larson, NPR, 9 Aug. 2026

The economy lost 23,000 jobs last month, yet the unemployment rate went down as the workforce shrank. — Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 7 Aug. 2026