variants
or shrunken
1
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
2
as in flinched
to draw back in fear, pain, or disgust
shrinking back from the approaching flames
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of shrunk
At the same time, the share of systems rated good or excellent has shrunk to by almost half to just 8%.
—
Tiisetso Motsoeneng, semafor.com, 3 Apr. 2026
The Royal Navy has shrunk dramatically since the Cold War ended, with combat-ready ships declining from 166 in 1975 to 66 in 2025, following decades of military spending cuts.
—Pan Pylas, Los Angeles Times, 2 Apr. 2026
Those commitments come at a time when domestic drug manufacturing had shrunk significantly.
—Annika Kim Constantino,angelica Peebles, CNBC, 2 Apr. 2026
The physical design of the N6 Pro matches most modern, high-end, room-to-room portable projectors, but shrunk down to mini-projector size.
—M. David Stone, PC Magazine, 1 Apr. 2026
The appetite for seasonal candy has not shrunk.
—Allison Palmer, Sacbee.com, 30 Mar. 2026
As cancer care becomes both more advanced and more specialized, options in rural areas have shrunk.
—Caleb Hellerman, CNN Money, 29 Mar. 2026
Dallas Area Rapid Transit narrowly escaped a slate of six withdrawal elections that could have shrunk the public transportation system significantly this year, exposing challenges the agency faces in providing bus, train and other transit services over a sprawling region.
—Lilly Kersh, Dallas Morning News, 28 Mar. 2026
Concessions in the 2010s froze wages and weakened health and retirement benefits, and the executive branch work force shrunk by 10%.
—Mark Pazniokas, Hartford Courant, 26 Mar. 2026
Tiisetso Motsoeneng, semafor.com, 3 Apr. 2026
The Royal Navy has shrunk dramatically since the Cold War ended, with combat-ready ships declining from 166 in 1975 to 66 in 2025, following decades of military spending cuts.
—Pan Pylas, Los Angeles Times, 2 Apr. 2026
Those commitments come at a time when domestic drug manufacturing had shrunk significantly.
—Annika Kim Constantino,angelica Peebles, CNBC, 2 Apr. 2026
The physical design of the N6 Pro matches most modern, high-end, room-to-room portable projectors, but shrunk down to mini-projector size.
—M. David Stone, PC Magazine, 1 Apr. 2026
The appetite for seasonal candy has not shrunk.
—Allison Palmer, Sacbee.com, 30 Mar. 2026
As cancer care becomes both more advanced and more specialized, options in rural areas have shrunk.
—Caleb Hellerman, CNN Money, 29 Mar. 2026
Dallas Area Rapid Transit narrowly escaped a slate of six withdrawal elections that could have shrunk the public transportation system significantly this year, exposing challenges the agency faces in providing bus, train and other transit services over a sprawling region.
—Lilly Kersh, Dallas Morning News, 28 Mar. 2026
Concessions in the 2010s froze wages and weakened health and retirement benefits, and the executive branch work force shrunk by 10%.
—Mark Pazniokas, Hartford Courant, 26 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shrunk
Verb
-
These boneless organisms fossilized as biofilm — they were rapidly buried and compressed between layers of rock, leaving behind two-dimensional impressions of their organic tissues.—
Mindy Weisberger,
CNN Money,
4 Apr. 2026
-
On the flip side, if premiums are compressed, your net proceeds may be lower than expected, even if spot prices are high.—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Gorajski flinched and ducked out of the way like Cisek was an incoming meteor.—
Tony Baranek,
Chicago Tribune,
3 Apr. 2026
-
Her coach never flinched, as Kara Lawson basked in the joy of winning such a big game in a city that has embraced her.—
Joe Davidson
March 27,
Sacbee.com,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
That was in 2021, when league revenues decreased as a result of the pandemic.—
Dan Sheldon,
New York Times,
6 Apr. 2026
-
Shooting percentages rapidly decreased after the intermission, and each team scored just 11 points in the third quarter.—
Haley Sawyer,
Oc Register,
4 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Part of the challenge for vessels and any potential ship-escorting operations through the Strait of Hormuz is that the room to maneuver is highly constricted.—
Sophie Tanno,
CNN Money,
4 Apr. 2026
-
Oil supplies have been constricted due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, causing costs to soar.—
Jordan Freiman,
CBS News,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Investors recoiled out of fears of an endless quagmire.—
Jake Angelo,
Fortune,
2 Apr. 2026
-
When Paramount debuted a first look at the film in 2019, online commentators recoiled at the speedy hedgehog’s human teeth and odd facial features.—
Angelique Jackson,
Variety,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
More elderly people could find themselves at the mercy of an obscure government program meant to save them from harm and preserve their dignity when their ability to take care of themselves is diminished.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
2 Apr. 2026
-
But with the chances of a Fed rate cut later this year highly diminished now and, with the reality that a cut (if it is issued) is likely to be by just 25 basis points, these estimates are unlikely to change dramatically, either.—
Matt Richardson,
CBS News,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Ndiaye also declined to clear the ball, instead trying to thread a pass to retreating teammate Jake Dengler inside the 18-yard box.—
Idaho Statesman,
Idaho Statesman,
5 Apr. 2026
-
In some places, fish catches declined precipitously in medium depths, which Joye attributes to nutritionally barren conditions.—
Jeffrey Marlow,
New Yorker,
5 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Such assurances provide little comfort to the relatives, friends and colleagues of those forcibly vanished.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Apr. 2026
-
Savannah Guthrie showed viewers her grief and desperation when her mother, Nancy, vanished two months ago.—
Brian Stelter,
CNN Money,
6 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shrunk.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shrunk. Accessed 8 Apr. 2026.
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