as in afraid
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1
as in revulsion
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2
as in diminishing
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1
as in compressing
to become smaller in size or volume through the drawing together of particles of matter
the sweater will shrink a little when washed
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2
as in recoiling
to draw back in fear, pain, or disgust
shrinking back from the approaching flames
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3
as in decreasing
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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of shrinking
Stephen Schaefer, Boston Herald, 29 Oct. 2025
This three-piece set from Chezmoi Collection includes a bedspread and two matching shams that resist pilling, shrinking, and thinning over time, all while regulating temperature to prevent overheating.
—Mariana Best, Better Homes & Gardens, 24 Oct. 2025
Hot water can be rough on fabrics and reduce the quality of your bedding over time, causing shrinking, fading, and deterioration of the fabric.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 23 Oct. 2025
Simultaneously, their shrinking contributes directly to rising sea levels, one of the most profound and far-reaching consequences of climate change.
—Kenna Hughes-Castleberry, Space.com, 22 Oct. 2025
Perone warned that with federal funding for social services shrinking, older adults’ needs are only going to keep growing, and without new support from governments or nonprofits, local resources may not be enough.
—Panashe Matemba-Mutasa, Mercury News, 12 Oct. 2025
Yet even as detox numbers improve, the number of outreach workers countywide able to connect people to services is at risk of shrinking.
—Blake Nelson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Sep. 2025
Among the consequences will be a shrinking of the civic arena, which could create an opening for nondemocratic actors such as China and Russia to expand their regional influence.
—Omar G. Encarnación, Foreign Affairs, 29 Sep. 2025
This fabric can maintain its structure without deforming, shrinking, or melting.
—Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 18 Sep. 2025
Amelia Lucas, CNBC, 24 Oct. 2025
But shrinking pixels isn’t simple.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 24 Oct. 2025
With the traditional theatrical window shrinking over the past few years, movies head to streaming about three months after their release in theaters.
—Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 23 Oct. 2025
The domestic labor market has been shrinking since 2010, only propped up by migrant workers needed to keep our economy growing.
—Ben Zweig, Time, 23 Oct. 2025
Theaters are shrinking, audiences scattered, and the machinery that once turned actors into household names has gone digital.
—Benjamin Svetkey, HollywoodReporter, 22 Oct. 2025
But those shrinking glaciers also draw tens of thousands of tourists to the state each year.
—Ella Nilsen, CNN Money, 22 Oct. 2025
Similarly, the Trafalgar Group shows the race tightening, with Spanberger’s lead shrinking to two points, down from five points on October 1.
—Martha McHardy, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Oct. 2025
Following a young woman navigating life after growing up in an orphanage, the film transforms her shrinking apartment into a dreamlike maze of memory and loss, using striking visual metaphors to explore belonging, self-worth, and the fragile hope of starting over.
—Essie Assibu, Variety, 17 Oct. 2025
Noun
Her world is either expanding or … shrinking?
—Stephen Schaefer, Boston Herald, 29 Oct. 2025
This three-piece set from Chezmoi Collection includes a bedspread and two matching shams that resist pilling, shrinking, and thinning over time, all while regulating temperature to prevent overheating.
—Mariana Best, Better Homes & Gardens, 24 Oct. 2025
Hot water can be rough on fabrics and reduce the quality of your bedding over time, causing shrinking, fading, and deterioration of the fabric.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 23 Oct. 2025
Simultaneously, their shrinking contributes directly to rising sea levels, one of the most profound and far-reaching consequences of climate change.
—Kenna Hughes-Castleberry, Space.com, 22 Oct. 2025
Perone warned that with federal funding for social services shrinking, older adults’ needs are only going to keep growing, and without new support from governments or nonprofits, local resources may not be enough.
—Panashe Matemba-Mutasa, Mercury News, 12 Oct. 2025
Yet even as detox numbers improve, the number of outreach workers countywide able to connect people to services is at risk of shrinking.
—Blake Nelson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Sep. 2025
Among the consequences will be a shrinking of the civic arena, which could create an opening for nondemocratic actors such as China and Russia to expand their regional influence.
—Omar G. Encarnación, Foreign Affairs, 29 Sep. 2025
This fabric can maintain its structure without deforming, shrinking, or melting.
—Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 18 Sep. 2025
Verb
In the second quarter, while many fast-food rivals reported shrinking sales, Taco Bell reported same-store sales growth of 4%.
—Amelia Lucas, CNBC, 24 Oct. 2025
But shrinking pixels isn’t simple.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 24 Oct. 2025
With the traditional theatrical window shrinking over the past few years, movies head to streaming about three months after their release in theaters.
—Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 23 Oct. 2025
The domestic labor market has been shrinking since 2010, only propped up by migrant workers needed to keep our economy growing.
—Ben Zweig, Time, 23 Oct. 2025
Theaters are shrinking, audiences scattered, and the machinery that once turned actors into household names has gone digital.
—Benjamin Svetkey, HollywoodReporter, 22 Oct. 2025
But those shrinking glaciers also draw tens of thousands of tourists to the state each year.
—Ella Nilsen, CNN Money, 22 Oct. 2025
Similarly, the Trafalgar Group shows the race tightening, with Spanberger’s lead shrinking to two points, down from five points on October 1.
—Martha McHardy, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Oct. 2025
Following a young woman navigating life after growing up in an orphanage, the film transforms her shrinking apartment into a dreamlike maze of memory and loss, using striking visual metaphors to explore belonging, self-worth, and the fragile hope of starting over.
—Essie Assibu, Variety, 17 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shrinking
Adjective
-
Tessa Kluetz Pernell designs interiors that aren’t afraid to make a bold statement.—
Elizabeth Stamp,
Architectural Digest,
3 Nov. 2025
-
The Rings of Power, but those are based on proven IP, at a moment when the industry seems afraid to spend big on anything but brand names.—
Alan Sepinwall,
Rolling Stone,
3 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Even House Speaker Mike Johnson, who otherwise has humored Trump at every turn, has expressed revulsion at the idea of a pardon.—
Robin Abcarian,
Mercury News,
29 Oct. 2025
-
The move follows widespread public revulsion over the attacks in the UK.—
Sophie Tanno,
CNN Money,
2 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Volpe was a focus of both media sessions, as Boone and Cashman detailed the extent of his shoulder problem and were both asked why the team stuck with him as the everyday shortstop despite the injury and his diminishing play.—
Peter Chawaga,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Oct. 2025
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Organizations with a poor data foundation see diminishing returns from technology investments, while those with superior data infrastructure experience accelerating returns.—
Tammy Hawes,
Forbes.com,
18 Sep. 2025
Verb
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According to the team, the process mimics the geological conditions that form fossil fuels, compressing wet biomass at high temperatures and pressures to produce biocrude.—
Melissa Fleur Afshar,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Oct. 2025
-
The mass on the ovary can also push onto the urinary system, compressing your bladder and creating a feeling of having to urinate constantly.—
Jocelyn Solis-Moreira,
Flow Space,
27 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Bassist Franz Lyons, standing nearby onstage, is seen recoiling and shielding his eyes from the dispersing spray.—
Jessica Lynch,
Billboard,
31 Oct. 2025
-
Americans are recoiling from the Democratic Party, and even in blue states like Colorado, Democrats are feeling the burn.—
The Denver Post Editorial Board,
Denver Post,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
As Arizona squeezes more money from its decreasing share of river water, freighting every drop with critical industries and a booming housing market, the price of water is bound to keep climbing.—
Austin Corona,
AZCentral.com,
6 Nov. 2025
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The effect of climate change on traditional bear food sources, a steep population decline in rural areas, and the decreasing number of hunters have been cited as factors driving the rise in bear encounters.—
Micah McCartney,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Somewhat soft-spoken, Riccoboni is hardly timid in his art.—
Michael James Rocha,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
2 Nov. 2025
-
Not as impressive is its thin and timid use of Star Wars' unique setting.—
Fran Ruiz,
Space.com,
29 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The rifle weighs up to 120 pounds with massive muzzle brakes, producing more than 200 foot-pounds of recoil.—
Atharva Gosavi,
Interesting Engineering,
30 Oct. 2025
-
This isn’t just adding parts to guns to increase damage or lessen recoil either; there’s room for some really funky experiments provided the right items are found.—
Jason Fanelli,
Rolling Stone,
23 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Shrinking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shrinking. Accessed 7 Nov. 2025.
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