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
Hallie Milstein, Southern Living, 15 Jan. 2026
Tom Yulsman, Time, 23 Feb. 2026
Dry on low heat and remove promptly to keep sheets soft and prevent shrinking.
—Sarah Lyon, The Spruce, 22 Feb. 2026
Heat can melt the synthetic fibers, causing shrinking, curling, and the fusing of the fibers.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 17 Feb. 2026
During the same period, union membership declined, the Democratic Party abandoned its working-class base, and both parties presided over the shrinking of the middle class.
—Annie Levin, Washington Post, 10 Feb. 2026
Are your balances growing or shrinking?
—Lyssanoel Frater, USA Today, 10 Feb. 2026
When so much of what’s wrong in the world is the narrowing and shrinking of our moral circles, a movement that effectively challenges that has to do the opposite.
—Jay Caspian Kang, New Yorker, 27 Jan. 2026
Send us the original, unedited photos from your phone or camera as JPGs—no cropping or shrinking is needed.
—Isabel Fattal, The Atlantic, 24 Jan. 2026
This trend has been coupled with a gradual shrinking of the welfare state.
—Miranda Sheild Johansson, Fortune, 22 Jan. 2026
Charles Selle, Chicago Tribune, 11 Mar. 2026
But results from the new polls indicate the likelihood of that happening is shrinking.
—Grace Hase, Mercury News, 11 Mar. 2026
Warren recalled spending the rest of the ceremony shrinking into himself.
—Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 11 Mar. 2026
The staffer cited fears that the NRC’s workforce is shrinking as the industry goes through a period of expansion.
—Ella Nilsen, CNN Money, 10 Mar. 2026
In other words, the margin for error is shrinking.
—Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 10 Mar. 2026
With each solar orbit lasting 769 days, that’s a real-time slowdown of just over 10 micrometers per second, shrinking the asteroids’ 300-million-mile orbit by 2,360 feet.
—Marcia Dunn, Los Angeles Times, 9 Mar. 2026
The Marty Supreme star took part in a live conversation with Matthew McConaughey for Variety in February, during which the pair discussed competing with audiences’ ever-shrinking attention spans.
—Fleurine Tideman, Glamour, 9 Mar. 2026
DeSoto is dropping from Class 6A to 5A Division I for football and to 5A for all other sports in realignment because of its shrinking enrollment.
—Greg Riddle, Dallas Morning News, 9 Mar. 2026
Adjective
Re-wash and dry the garment, using these tips to avoid re-shrinking, to prevent a residue from the conditioner from setting.
—Hallie Milstein, Southern Living, 15 Jan. 2026
Noun
Advertisement The expansion of oil drilling has been made possible by the shrinking of sea ice, which is occurring fastest in the Barents Sea.
—Tom Yulsman, Time, 23 Feb. 2026
Dry on low heat and remove promptly to keep sheets soft and prevent shrinking.
—Sarah Lyon, The Spruce, 22 Feb. 2026
Heat can melt the synthetic fibers, causing shrinking, curling, and the fusing of the fibers.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 17 Feb. 2026
During the same period, union membership declined, the Democratic Party abandoned its working-class base, and both parties presided over the shrinking of the middle class.
—Annie Levin, Washington Post, 10 Feb. 2026
Are your balances growing or shrinking?
—Lyssanoel Frater, USA Today, 10 Feb. 2026
When so much of what’s wrong in the world is the narrowing and shrinking of our moral circles, a movement that effectively challenges that has to do the opposite.
—Jay Caspian Kang, New Yorker, 27 Jan. 2026
Send us the original, unedited photos from your phone or camera as JPGs—no cropping or shrinking is needed.
—Isabel Fattal, The Atlantic, 24 Jan. 2026
This trend has been coupled with a gradual shrinking of the welfare state.
—Miranda Sheild Johansson, Fortune, 22 Jan. 2026
Verb
Over recent years, Illinois has seen a flock of corporations flee to more tax-friendly locations, which means shrinking tax collections and fewer employees to contribute to the income- tax pool.
—Charles Selle, Chicago Tribune, 11 Mar. 2026
But results from the new polls indicate the likelihood of that happening is shrinking.
—Grace Hase, Mercury News, 11 Mar. 2026
Warren recalled spending the rest of the ceremony shrinking into himself.
—Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 11 Mar. 2026
The staffer cited fears that the NRC’s workforce is shrinking as the industry goes through a period of expansion.
—Ella Nilsen, CNN Money, 10 Mar. 2026
In other words, the margin for error is shrinking.
—Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 10 Mar. 2026
With each solar orbit lasting 769 days, that’s a real-time slowdown of just over 10 micrometers per second, shrinking the asteroids’ 300-million-mile orbit by 2,360 feet.
—Marcia Dunn, Los Angeles Times, 9 Mar. 2026
The Marty Supreme star took part in a live conversation with Matthew McConaughey for Variety in February, during which the pair discussed competing with audiences’ ever-shrinking attention spans.
—Fleurine Tideman, Glamour, 9 Mar. 2026
DeSoto is dropping from Class 6A to 5A Division I for football and to 5A for all other sports in realignment because of its shrinking enrollment.
—Greg Riddle, Dallas Morning News, 9 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shrinking
Adjective
-
Elizabeth Hurley isn't afraid of a re-wear.—
Anna Kaufman,
USA Today,
10 Mar. 2026
-
Don't be afraid of the rainy season.—
Tom Vanderbilt,
Condé Nast Traveler,
10 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Widespread revulsion at the assassination led to a crackdown on the Red Brigades and the beginning of the end of the group’s influence.—
David Faris,
TheWeek,
16 Feb. 2026
-
Manscaped’s ‘Hair Ballad’ Several ads trafficked in revulsion as an attention-getter, none more so than this one for a body shaver featuring various clumps of removed body hair singing with their little hairy mouths.—
Omar L. Gallaga,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Azerbaijan in recent years has developed ties with Israel and the United States, with Iran's influence in the South Caucasus region diminishing.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
6 Mar. 2026
-
One plus from the offseason is that Brandon Nimmo’s bat has not shown the diminishing signs that Semien’s displayed the last two years.—
Tim Cowlishaw,
Dallas Morning News,
28 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The software includes editing tools for inserting text, annotating, merging, splitting, compressing, and watermarking PDFs.—
StackCommerce Team,
PC Magazine,
11 Mar. 2026
-
Compression packing cubes usually end up slightly domed in the center after compressing them.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
3 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Then, as things dragged on, Goldberg could be seen recoiling and wincing in her chair — and, at one point, fully collapsing backward in protest.—
Joey Nolfi,
Entertainment Weekly,
4 Mar. 2026
-
His most intense fans may revel in his displays of dominance, but his least attached supporters—the ones who turned him from a loser in 2020 to a winner in 2024—are recoiling.—
Jonathan Chait,
The Atlantic,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
There are some recent signs that HALO trading has been decreasing.—
Devika Rao,
TheWeek,
10 Mar. 2026
-
Luckily, Sleep Week brings the best mattress sales, at least partially decreasing the strain on your wallet.—
Julia Harrison,
Architectural Digest,
10 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
His hope is to create a new incentive for these timid business leaders, by wiping out a quarter billion or more from their combined market cap.—
Kristin Stoller,
Fortune,
28 Feb. 2026
-
At the heart of the series is Deano’s friendship with Kit, his timid best mate from the wealthy side of town.—
Katie Campione,
Deadline,
20 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
David asks whether the country can find a way back from a dangerous moral and political impasse, as a majority of Americans recoil from these actions while a determined minority continue to defend them.—
David Frum,
The Atlantic,
28 Jan. 2026
-
Fans recoil at the idea of betrayal.—
Mike Bianchi,
The Orlando Sentinel,
24 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shrinking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shrinking. Accessed 14 Mar. 2026.
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