1
as in to compress
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 to flinch
to draw back in fear, pain, or disgust
shrinking back from the approaching flames
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to decrease
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 shrink
Young women increasingly outpace men in bachelor's degree attainment and economic opportunity for men without college degrees has deteriorated, shrinking the pool of men that women are more likely to see as suitable husbands.
—
Kamaron McNair,
CNBC,
2 July 2026
Over the past few months, Russia’s territorial holdings in Ukraine actually shrank for the first time since August 2024, according to CSIS.
—
Tristan Bove,
Fortune,
2 July 2026
Still, if only there were a way to capture a fraction of that processing power, the carbon footprint of computing could meaningfully shrink.
—
New Atlas,
2 July 2026
By 1980, just after 1976’s Bicentennial, there was a lot of beer by volume being brewed by an ever-shrinking number of breweries.
—
Jay R. Brooks,
Mercury News,
2 July 2026
See All Example Sentences for shrink
Kamaron McNair,
CNBC,
2 July 2026
Over the past few months, Russia’s territorial holdings in Ukraine actually shrank for the first time since August 2024, according to CSIS.
—
Tristan Bove,
Fortune,
2 July 2026
Still, if only there were a way to capture a fraction of that processing power, the carbon footprint of computing could meaningfully shrink.
—
New Atlas,
2 July 2026
By 1980, just after 1976’s Bicentennial, there was a lot of beer by volume being brewed by an ever-shrinking number of breweries.
—
Jay R. Brooks,
Mercury News,
2 July 2026
See All Example Sentences for shrink
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shrink
Verb
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The consumer version compresses that same idea into a ring, watch or app.
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Investment grade spreads are trading near historical tights, and high yield spreads have compressed below 300 basis points — a level that, according to iShares analysis, has occurred only 5% of the time since January 2000.
Verb
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With five seasons of Disney media training under their belts, the trio didn’t flinch.
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Sipp slightly flinched his left arm before throwing a pitch to Emmanuel Burriss, allowing Miguel Tejada to score and sending San Francisco to its fourth straight win.
Verb
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Plus, new windows are more energy efficient than old ones, meaning a summer installation can decrease your energy bill now and when temperatures drop in the fall and winter.
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Doubles players fear for their tennis future after being told by the ATP Tour that prize money and tournament sizes will decrease significantly starting in 2028.
Verb
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This interview has been condensed for length and clarity by Ashoka.
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This interview has been edited and condensed for length and clarity.
Verb
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The original originalists, the Constitution’s framers, would have winced.
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After the ensuing pitch to Max Schuemann, Skubal again winced and began pacing at the back of the mound.
Verb
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Historically, after that period, the chances of survival without a water source diminish rapidly.
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Prolonged exposure to heat can lead to insufficient or poor sleep, compromising the immune system, increasing the risk for cardiovascular disease and diminishing cognitive performance.
Verb
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Its billowy fit allows for movement and breeze—never constricting or uncomfortable.
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Worried about the bra being too small and constricting?
Verb
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Markets recoiled for a moment, then kept climbing, the Nasdaq tripling before the decade was out.
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This faith caused the neocons to recoil in from the Obama administration’s 2015 nuclear deal with Iran.
Cite this Entry
“Shrink.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shrink. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
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