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
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
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, 22 Jan. 2026
This trend has been coupled with a gradual shrinking of the welfare state.
—Miranda Sheild Johansson, Fortune, 22 Jan. 2026
Congress should avoid policies that serve only wealthy depositors, to the detriment of the banking industry’s soundness and, not to mention, the shrinking of account-holders’ wallets.
—Tyler Curtis, Boston Herald, 20 Jan. 2026
These lobes atrophy, and the shrinking of these areas can cause speech issues, emotional problems and changes in personality.
—Cara Lynn Shultz, PEOPLE, 15 Jan. 2026
Because you’re done contorting, shrinking, softening, and waiting for permission.
—Samyra, SELF, 14 Jan. 2026
The cycle of orbital eccentricity — the stretching and shrinking of Earth's elliptical orbit — operates over hundreds of thousands of years.
—Stefanie Waldek, Space.com, 12 Jan. 2026
Daniel Lempres, Sacbee.com, 28 Jan. 2026
The strategy involves shrinking membership, raising prices, cutting benefits and increasing transparency to restore profitability — along with the company’s reputation — after a series of hurdles over the last two years.
—Annika Kim Constantino, CNBC, 27 Jan. 2026
DeSoto’s shrinking enrollment puts it below 5A Division I regional finalist Highland Park (1,990) and only five students ahead of 5A Division I state runner-up Frisco Lone Star (1,927).
—Greg Riddle, Dallas Morning News, 27 Jan. 2026
Though the world’s community of survivors is shrinking, some are still telling their stories for the first time after all these years.
—Vanessa Gera, Los Angeles Times, 27 Jan. 2026
Think of deductions as shrinking your tax bill.
—Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes.com, 21 Jan. 2026
Sea ice is shrinking at a rapid rate.
—Ivana Kottasová, CNN Money, 21 Jan. 2026
That drove up the number of clients seeking representation from an already-shrinking number of counsel available.
—Josie Reich, Hartford Courant, 21 Jan. 2026
How Often to Wash Raw Denim Raw denim is denim that hasn’t gone through pre-washing or shrinking processes during production.
—Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 20 Jan. 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
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
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, 22 Jan. 2026
This trend has been coupled with a gradual shrinking of the welfare state.
—Miranda Sheild Johansson, Fortune, 22 Jan. 2026
Congress should avoid policies that serve only wealthy depositors, to the detriment of the banking industry’s soundness and, not to mention, the shrinking of account-holders’ wallets.
—Tyler Curtis, Boston Herald, 20 Jan. 2026
These lobes atrophy, and the shrinking of these areas can cause speech issues, emotional problems and changes in personality.
—Cara Lynn Shultz, PEOPLE, 15 Jan. 2026
Because you’re done contorting, shrinking, softening, and waiting for permission.
—Samyra, SELF, 14 Jan. 2026
The cycle of orbital eccentricity — the stretching and shrinking of Earth's elliptical orbit — operates over hundreds of thousands of years.
—Stefanie Waldek, Space.com, 12 Jan. 2026
Verb
The task force called for increased and more stable funding for fireworks disposal, noting costs nearly doubled in 2024 amid a shrinking disposal industry and rising seizures.
—Daniel Lempres, Sacbee.com, 28 Jan. 2026
The strategy involves shrinking membership, raising prices, cutting benefits and increasing transparency to restore profitability — along with the company’s reputation — after a series of hurdles over the last two years.
—Annika Kim Constantino, CNBC, 27 Jan. 2026
DeSoto’s shrinking enrollment puts it below 5A Division I regional finalist Highland Park (1,990) and only five students ahead of 5A Division I state runner-up Frisco Lone Star (1,927).
—Greg Riddle, Dallas Morning News, 27 Jan. 2026
Though the world’s community of survivors is shrinking, some are still telling their stories for the first time after all these years.
—Vanessa Gera, Los Angeles Times, 27 Jan. 2026
Think of deductions as shrinking your tax bill.
—Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes.com, 21 Jan. 2026
Sea ice is shrinking at a rapid rate.
—Ivana Kottasová, CNN Money, 21 Jan. 2026
That drove up the number of clients seeking representation from an already-shrinking number of counsel available.
—Josie Reich, Hartford Courant, 21 Jan. 2026
How Often to Wash Raw Denim Raw denim is denim that hasn’t gone through pre-washing or shrinking processes during production.
—Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 20 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shrinking
Adjective
-
Hundreds of volunteers have packed and delivered grocery boxes to families too afraid to leave their homes.—
Dev Patnaik,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
-
People are so afraid to go out and participate in public life regardless of their citizenship status.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
In the face of such widespread public revulsion, the administration and its enablers have been trying to invent a terrorist threat to justify their increasingly unpopular siege of Minneapolis.—
Michelle Goldberg,
Mercury News,
20 Jan. 2026
-
Every walk down the street filled him with revulsion.—
Amir Ahmadi Arian,
The Dial,
15 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Yet Trump’s attacks and distractions may be yielding diminishing returns beyond his base.—
Chris Smith,
Vanity Fair,
29 Jan. 2026
-
The Hyperion Avenue store is a throwback to a time of individualized service in an era of big-box anonymity and diminishing expertise.—
James Rainey,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
This selloff in software was a revaluation of what the market is willing to pay for SaaS companies, meaning price-to-earnings multiple ratios are compressing.—
Jeff Marks,
CNBC,
29 Jan. 2026
-
Sundance has always had a way of compressing time.—
Rena Ronson,
HollywoodReporter,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
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
-
Trump has been riding roughshod over Washington and voters are recoiling.—
Chris Stirewalt,
The Hill,
12 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Supports Heart Health Magnesium and turmeric together may reduce the risk of heart disease by decreasing inflammation, improving circulation, and supporting cardiovascular function.—
Lindsay Curtis,
Verywell Health,
29 Jan. 2026
-
Back then, debasement was done by decreasing the amount of precious metals within gold and silver coins that were used as currency and increasing the amount of cheaper base metals, like copper.—
Davis Giangiulio,
CNBC,
27 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
The siblings have different personalities, according to their keepers; Xiao Xiao is timid while his sister Lei Lei is fearless and adapts to changes quickly.—
Chris Lau,
CNN Money,
25 Jan. 2026
-
Oswald’s timid Ludie is gentle, sad and almost childlike in his lack of assertiveness toward his wife.—
Pam Kragen,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
23 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Fans recoil at the idea of betrayal.—
Mike Bianchi,
The Orlando Sentinel,
24 Jan. 2026
-
The recoil and the force of her blow knocked me backwards.—
William D. Brown,
Outdoor Life,
13 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Shrinking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shrinking. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.
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