1
as in to compress
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 to flinch
to draw back in fear, pain, or disgust
shrinking back from the approaching flames
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to decrease
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 shrink
The total availability rate for office space improved and shrank during the October-through-December fourth quarter of 2025, Savills reported.
—
George Avalos, Mercury News, 6 Jan. 2026
But the latest data show killings have fallen even as the LAPD has steadily shrunk and seen officers conduct fewer traffic stops and interactions with the public than in past years.
—Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 6 Jan. 2026
The effects of sanctions and shrinking foreign-currency revenues have pushed the Iranian state to raise taxes on households while shielding military and ideological spending.
—Kamran Talattof, The Conversation, 6 Jan. 2026
With the deterioration and rise of crime in South Beach in the late 1970s, as well as inflation and the shrinking tourist business, the Famous was forced to close in 1981.
—Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 6 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for shrink
George Avalos, Mercury News, 6 Jan. 2026
But the latest data show killings have fallen even as the LAPD has steadily shrunk and seen officers conduct fewer traffic stops and interactions with the public than in past years.
—Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 6 Jan. 2026
The effects of sanctions and shrinking foreign-currency revenues have pushed the Iranian state to raise taxes on households while shielding military and ideological spending.
—Kamran Talattof, The Conversation, 6 Jan. 2026
With the deterioration and rise of crime in South Beach in the late 1970s, as well as inflation and the shrinking tourist business, the Famous was forced to close in 1981.
—Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 6 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for shrink
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shrink
Verb
-
The ability of the sponge to compress means that over time the rug will weigh down the edges and prevent the rug from looking like it’s raised up onto a surface.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Jan. 2026
-
Las Vegas has compressed a short stretch of the Strip into a luxury gauntlet that’ll wreck your step count and your credit limit in the same afternoon.—
Paul Jebara,
Condé Nast Traveler,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Sheinbaum quickly moves away and visibly flinches as the man attempts to put his arm around her.—
Ellie Cook,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Nov. 2025
-
In the bottom of the third, Yesavage’s only blemish of the game came on a 2-0 count to Enrique Hernandez, who didn’t flinch at a splitter up in the zone.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
30 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Newsom claims homelessness decline Newsom during his final State of the State address Thursday claimed the state’s homeless population decreased last year.—
Theresa Clift,
Sacbee.com,
10 Jan. 2026
-
Meanwhile, the number of job openings have decreased nearly 10% on the year to 729,000 in the September to November period from a year ago, the ONS found.—
Sawdah Bhaimiya,
CNBC,
10 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The conversation has been necessarily condensed for clarity and to take out vast numbers of further digressions.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
6 Jan. 2026
-
Campaigns for special elections are sprints, condensing what typically occurs over the better part of a year into no more than 56 days.—
Mark Pazniokas,
Hartford Courant,
6 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
In a video of the incident, Tricia lets out a loud scream and winces as the champagne drips from her hair, into her eyes and onto her face.—
Angel Saunders,
PEOPLE,
31 Oct. 2025
-
The actress was shown wincing in pain before being escorted out of the ballroom on a stretcher into an ambulance.—
Mekishana Pierre,
Entertainment Weekly,
30 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Still seething after a sloppy 19-16 loss to the Detroit Lions, Johnson wasn’t hiding his dissatisfaction with a defeat that seemed to diminish his team’s momentum.—
Dan Wiederer,
New York Times,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Kaufman moved there 30 years ago, and since that time the island’s community has diminished by degrees, its youth lured away by better employment prospects in Provo and overseas.—
Henry Wismayer,
Travel + Leisure,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Low oil prices stem from a glut of oil alongside relatively slow global economic growth, which has constricted demand for fossil fuels.—
Max Zahn,
ABC News,
8 Jan. 2026
-
Despite a committed turn, Jack’s perspective is even more constricted than Anna’s.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Generations of scientists, perhaps all with Great Aunt Mildreds who recoiled at the noise, have looked into whether cracking truly bad for our joints or overall health.—
Sarah Lindenfeld Hall,
Popular Science,
7 Jan. 2026
-
But the Oscar-winning filmmaker recoils at being called a visionary.—
Brent Lang,
Variety,
5 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shrink.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shrink. Accessed 11 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share