SHRANK Synonyms: 119 Similar and Opposite Words

shrank

verb

variants or shrunk

past tense of shrink

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

as in recoiled

to draw back in fear, pain, or disgust shrinking back from the approaching flames

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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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 The 1922 agreement that divided the water among the states doled out more than was actually flowing, and since 2000, the river has shrunk dramatically as climate change intensifies dry conditions in the Rocky Mountains. —

Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 14 May 2026 Betz also pointed to Michigan's lower birth rates, which have shrunk the pool of 18-year-olds seeking a college education, a trend that heavily impacts small private institutions like Siena Heights. —

CBS News, 14 May 2026 Large cities saw significant slowdowns, and some even shrank, the agency said in a press release. —

Dian Zhang, USA Today, 14 May 2026 By 2019, Iran's middle class had already shrunk to around 55% of the population, explained Mohammad Farzanegan, a professor of Middle Eastern economics at the University of Marburg. —

ABC News, 13 May 2026 Republicans could choose to revert to that map or take a more aggressive path, especially in the 180-member House, where the GOP’s majority has shrunk over time to 99 seats. —

Jack Brook, Twin Cities, 13 May 2026 If your org chart hasn't shrunk in two years, your leverage hasn't grown. —

Gabriel Alin Zainescu, Forbes.com, 10 May 2026 The Bulls lag significantly behind their peers in the investment toward an analytics department, which shrank to one of the smallest in the league during the final year of Karnišovas’ reign. —

Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 6 May 2026 The Idaho presence for the chain, founded in California, has shrunk to a single location. —

Michael Deeds updated May 6, Idaho Statesman, 6 May 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for shrank

Verb

Households consumed less, firms invested less, imports fell, and recessions compressed spending.

— James Broughel, Forbes.com, 10 May 2026
In sports, especially, where career timelines are often compressed, the difference between abrupt endings and seamless transitions usually comes down to this kind of enterprise mindset.

— Sandra Richards, Rolling Stone, 8 May 2026