variants
or shrunk
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 recoiled
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 shrank
The wrinkle is that Les has accidentally shrunk Lindy to six inches high, adding a high-concept twist to the relationship drama.
—
Denise Petski, Deadline, 5 Feb. 2026
Today, the number of GE employees in Schenectady has shrunk dramatically.
—Natalia Sánchez Loayza, Scientific American, 5 Feb. 2026
Europe and the Middle East shrank 1 percent overall.
—Lily Templeton, Footwear News, 4 Feb. 2026
Over time, steamboat service shrank back.
—Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 1 Feb. 2026
In June of last year the average time on hold before speaking to an agent was 20 minutes, that shrunk to an all-time low of seven minutes in September.
—Shawn Tully, Fortune, 31 Jan. 2026
The Lower Basin once used all that the 1922 interstate compact awarded it and has had to cut back already as the supply has shrunk.
—Brandon Loomis, AZCentral.com, 31 Jan. 2026
But because the agency handled it professionally, the payroll shrank appreciably, and few of us landed on the street.
—Kate Callen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Jan. 2026
As digital distractions, from texting, social media, breaking news, work, and more, increasingly encroach on our lives, our average attention span — the length of time a person is able to concentrate mentally on a specific activity — has shrunk.
—Big Think, 29 Jan. 2026
Denise Petski, Deadline, 5 Feb. 2026
Today, the number of GE employees in Schenectady has shrunk dramatically.
—Natalia Sánchez Loayza, Scientific American, 5 Feb. 2026
Europe and the Middle East shrank 1 percent overall.
—Lily Templeton, Footwear News, 4 Feb. 2026
Over time, steamboat service shrank back.
—Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 1 Feb. 2026
In June of last year the average time on hold before speaking to an agent was 20 minutes, that shrunk to an all-time low of seven minutes in September.
—Shawn Tully, Fortune, 31 Jan. 2026
The Lower Basin once used all that the 1922 interstate compact awarded it and has had to cut back already as the supply has shrunk.
—Brandon Loomis, AZCentral.com, 31 Jan. 2026
But because the agency handled it professionally, the payroll shrank appreciably, and few of us landed on the street.
—Kate Callen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Jan. 2026
As digital distractions, from texting, social media, breaking news, work, and more, increasingly encroach on our lives, our average attention span — the length of time a person is able to concentrate mentally on a specific activity — has shrunk.
—Big Think, 29 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shrank
Verb
-
When the surface of the skin is touched, compressed, or struck, these sensors convert mechanical force into electrical signals.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
8 Feb. 2026
-
When investors have less confidence in future growth, the P/E will get compressed.—
Morgan Chittum,
CNBC,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Brendan Mcdermid | Reuters Software stocks on Thursday slid deeper into an ongoing intense sell-off this year as investors recoiled from the sector on growing fears that artificial intelligence could upend many firms' business models.—
Yun Li,
CNBC,
29 Jan. 2026
-
The citizenry has broadly recoiled; her killing, in addition to being a human tragedy, has been a public relations disaster for the administration.—
Michelle Goldberg,
Mercury News,
20 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
But over that same span, the number of boys playing flag football actually decreased.—
Hannah Keyser,
CNN Money,
7 Feb. 2026
-
Short-term rates have come down as the Federal Reserve decreased the federal funds rate, but the central bank opted to pause rate cuts in January.—
Michelle Fox,
CNBC,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.—
Clio Chang,
Curbed,
5 Feb. 2026
-
The following conversation has been edited and condensed.—
Caroline Mimbs Nyce,
New Yorker,
4 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
But as his show became a pop culture punchline and an enduring ratings force, Povich says the person closest to him never flinched.—
Dave Quinn,
PEOPLE,
28 Jan. 2026
-
Adi flinched but passed it to him.—
Jonathan Miles,
Harpers Magazine,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Cortina Mayor Gianluca Lorenzi received death threats after centuries-old trees were felled to make way for a $131 million bobsledding track.—
The Week US,
TheWeek,
9 Feb. 2026
-
Afterward, Agnes and I were felled by the kind of hunger that overtakes only those who have exerted themselves in cold weather.—
Boris Fishman,
Travel + Leisure,
8 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The Bulls eventually collapsed in a 136-120 loss to the Nuggets before a sellout crowd of 20,939, but the start of the latest rebuild that can’t be called a rebuild was off to an interesting first step nonetheless.—
Paul Sullivan,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Feb. 2026
-
Desperate social media posts from residents reached a fever pitch over the past week, with residents sharing photos of sheets of ice on exterior walls and a ceiling collapsed on cars in a garage.—
Staff Report,
Hartford Courant,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The issue became apparent at 4-4 in the third set, when Alcaraz winced after stretching for a volley and a match that had appeared a foregone conclusion spun on its axis.—
Charlie Eccleshare,
New York Times,
30 Jan. 2026
-
The hard-drinking, hyper-sensitive Fitzgerald himself would have winced at any of the five adaptations of The Great Gatsby.—
Peter Bart,
Deadline,
22 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shrank.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shrank. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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