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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of shrunk
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
The research and manufacturing infrastructure to close those gaps quickly doesn’t currently exist at the scale this moment requires, and the workforce to deploy them has shrunk.
—Ashish K. Jha, STAT, 25 Mar. 2026
The share of students with disabilities is growing Student bodies at most UW campuses have shrunk over the past decade, so the Journal Sentinel calculated the share of students with disabilities using enrollment data.
—Kelly Meyerhofer, jsonline.com, 25 Mar. 2026
Overpayments logged in Hamilton County shrunk to approximately $99,400 from over $106,000 after being disputed by providers.
—Grace Tucker, Cincinnati Enquirer, 25 Mar. 2026
As the ranks of mental health care providers at the VA have shrunk, the department has proposed shifting billions of dollars into community care, a program in which veterans obtain health care via private physicians and other providers.
—Vernal Coleman, ProPublica, 24 Mar. 2026
In building the business and growing her team, her personal time has shrunk.
—Kiana Murden, Vogue, 24 Mar. 2026
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
The research and manufacturing infrastructure to close those gaps quickly doesn’t currently exist at the scale this moment requires, and the workforce to deploy them has shrunk.
—Ashish K. Jha, STAT, 25 Mar. 2026
The share of students with disabilities is growing Student bodies at most UW campuses have shrunk over the past decade, so the Journal Sentinel calculated the share of students with disabilities using enrollment data.
—Kelly Meyerhofer, jsonline.com, 25 Mar. 2026
Overpayments logged in Hamilton County shrunk to approximately $99,400 from over $106,000 after being disputed by providers.
—Grace Tucker, Cincinnati Enquirer, 25 Mar. 2026
As the ranks of mental health care providers at the VA have shrunk, the department has proposed shifting billions of dollars into community care, a program in which veterans obtain health care via private physicians and other providers.
—Vernal Coleman, ProPublica, 24 Mar. 2026
In building the business and growing her team, her personal time has shrunk.
—Kiana Murden, Vogue, 24 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shrunk
Verb
-
While the valuation has compressed meaningfully, the company’s weakening growth profile and persistent underperformance suggest the market may still be adjusting to a lower-quality earnings outlook.—
Tony Zhang,
CNBC,
25 Mar. 2026
-
During ejection, a moon’s orbit can become highly elongated, generating strong tidal forces as it is repeatedly stretched and compressed by its host planet.—
Jijo Malayil,
Interesting Engineering,
22 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
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
-
Even as Michigan State came roaring back in the second half, cutting the lead to just two in the final minute, UCLA never flinched.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
In the past forty years, men’s wages have decreased as a percentage of over-all family income, while broader wealth inequalities and job insecurity have grown.—
Charles Bethea,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
-
In two of six Minneapolis areas, overall crime decreased 43% and 56% respectively, while, in all other areas, overall crime rose.—
Eric Adler
March 29,
Kansas City Star,
29 Mar. 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
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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
-
Cylinders of fluid gas, which power everything from taxicabs to cooking appliances, vanished from many distributors.—
Nathan Heller,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Partial remains found on a California beach four years ago have been identified as those of a former banker who vanished in 1999.—
Minyvonne Burke,
NBC news,
30 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shrunk.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shrunk. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
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