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
Jeff St. John, USA Today, 27 Apr. 2026
Federal support for expanding early education funding is sparse and shrinking.
—Moriah Balingit, Fortune, 23 Apr. 2026
Federal support for expanding early education funding is sparse and shrinking.
—Moriah Balingit, Los Angeles Times, 22 Apr. 2026
Internal gas molecules radiate heat away, enabling further shrinking.
—Big Think, 20 Apr. 2026
That included shrinking who could query the 702 database and requiring sign-off from a superior before reviewing any information collected on Americans.
—Rebecca Beitsch, The Hill, 15 Apr. 2026
Anything worse than another Rory round in the 60s would have resulted in his lead shrinking, and a wobbly Saturday was certain to shrink the gap further.
—Alex Kirshner, New York Times, 12 Apr. 2026
Use cold water to wash sheets made from delicate fabrics like silk or linen to prevent shrinking or damage.
—Nashia Baker, Martha Stewart, 8 Apr. 2026
The shrinking world As birth rates fall, the shrinking of a nation’s population is often worrisome for political elites, who tend to see a large population as a source of power.
—John Rennie Short, The Conversation, 31 Mar. 2026
Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 6 May 2026
As more Americans take weight-loss medications such as Ozempic, appetites are shrinking.
—Khloe Quill , Angelica Stabile, FOXNews.com, 6 May 2026
Demand was still 29% higher than the same week one year ago, but that annual comparison has been shrinking.
—Diana Olick, CNBC, 6 May 2026
California’s declining oil production and shrinking refining capacity have left the state dependent on imports for three-quarters of its crude oil, with few viable alternatives.
—Los Angeles Times, 4 May 2026
Hospitals also have struggled for decades with Medicaid rates that cover an ever-shrinking share of the cost of treating poor patients.
—Keith M. Phaneuf, Hartford Courant, 28 Apr. 2026
Software headcount is shrinking.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 28 Apr. 2026
Even more than disability accommodations, the school district’s fundamental issue is that overall enrollment is shrinking.
—Marc Novicoff, The Atlantic, 28 Apr. 2026
The city faces a budget shortfall, and the school district’s shrinking enrollment could lead to school closures.
—Daniel Lempres, Sacbee.com, 28 Apr. 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
With irrigation shrinking and solar replacing crops, longtime farmworker Rosa Ramirez worries about disappearing jobs.
—Jeff St. John, USA Today, 27 Apr. 2026
Federal support for expanding early education funding is sparse and shrinking.
—Moriah Balingit, Fortune, 23 Apr. 2026
Federal support for expanding early education funding is sparse and shrinking.
—Moriah Balingit, Los Angeles Times, 22 Apr. 2026
Internal gas molecules radiate heat away, enabling further shrinking.
—Big Think, 20 Apr. 2026
That included shrinking who could query the 702 database and requiring sign-off from a superior before reviewing any information collected on Americans.
—Rebecca Beitsch, The Hill, 15 Apr. 2026
Anything worse than another Rory round in the 60s would have resulted in his lead shrinking, and a wobbly Saturday was certain to shrink the gap further.
—Alex Kirshner, New York Times, 12 Apr. 2026
Use cold water to wash sheets made from delicate fabrics like silk or linen to prevent shrinking or damage.
—Nashia Baker, Martha Stewart, 8 Apr. 2026
The shrinking world As birth rates fall, the shrinking of a nation’s population is often worrisome for political elites, who tend to see a large population as a source of power.
—John Rennie Short, The Conversation, 31 Mar. 2026
Verb
Ramberg/Getty Images Household budgets are under significant pressure right now, with millions of Americans trying to juggle stubborn (and now rising) living costs and shrinking financial cushions thanks to their rising credit card debt.
—Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 6 May 2026
As more Americans take weight-loss medications such as Ozempic, appetites are shrinking.
—Khloe Quill , Angelica Stabile, FOXNews.com, 6 May 2026
Demand was still 29% higher than the same week one year ago, but that annual comparison has been shrinking.
—Diana Olick, CNBC, 6 May 2026
California’s declining oil production and shrinking refining capacity have left the state dependent on imports for three-quarters of its crude oil, with few viable alternatives.
—Los Angeles Times, 4 May 2026
Hospitals also have struggled for decades with Medicaid rates that cover an ever-shrinking share of the cost of treating poor patients.
—Keith M. Phaneuf, Hartford Courant, 28 Apr. 2026
Software headcount is shrinking.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 28 Apr. 2026
Even more than disability accommodations, the school district’s fundamental issue is that overall enrollment is shrinking.
—Marc Novicoff, The Atlantic, 28 Apr. 2026
The city faces a budget shortfall, and the school district’s shrinking enrollment could lead to school closures.
—Daniel Lempres, Sacbee.com, 28 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shrinking
Adjective
-
Umpires, afraid of being overturned, or at least, more aware of the new zone and its limitations, have been calling fewer strikes.—
Ian Miller OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Almost half are personally afraid of losing their job to AI, ranking it among the most acute individual stressors measured in the survey.—
Jessica Guynn,
USA Today,
28 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
But now many of those same factions are expressing open revulsion at the Iran war, rupturing relationships that were supposed to usher in a new international order.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
9 Apr. 2026
-
Dahl’s revulsion at the violence committed in Israel’s name is at once comprehensible, in and of itself, and rooted in Dahl’s set of antisemitic beliefs.—
Daniel D'Addario,
Variety,
24 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The ability to comfortably live in California has become more difficult for the average resident, as the cost of living and the dollar's diminishing value have increased over the last year, said Theresa Rutherford, president of SEIU 1020.—
Paris Barraza,
USA Today,
1 May 2026
-
Spring-Flowering Trees To avoid removing flower buds and diminishing—or halting entirely—the annual floral show, wait to prune trees that bloom before July until they are done flowering.—
Luke Miller,
Better Homes & Gardens,
1 May 2026
Verb
-
The coaches association wants to fix this by ending conference championship games and compressing the break between the end of the regular season and the start of the playoff.—
Ian Miller OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
7 May 2026
-
Machine learning has been around for compressing content to high-res content.—
Dewayne Bevil,
The Orlando Sentinel,
6 May 2026
Verb
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Coinbase’s effort, filled with little nuances and created to emulate the experience of a videogame, might have people welcoming another look rather than recoiling at seeing the spot for the 15th time in a period of just a few days.—
Brian Steinberg,
Variety,
12 Mar. 2026
-
Then, as things dragged on, Goldberg could be seen recoiling and wincing in her chair — and, at one point, fully collapsing backward in protest.—
Joey Nolfi,
Entertainment Weekly,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
As recently reported through KPBS, this progress has led to rents decreasing by about 5%.—
David Garrick,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 May 2026
-
Several years ago, MLB and Commissioner Rob Manfred enacted changes meant to speed up the game through better pace of play, keeping the same amount of action in baseball while decreasing the time each game took to finish.—
Ian Miller OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
7 May 2026
Adjective
-
And also the anticipatory obedience by a lot of these news organizations who are more timid.—
Michael Schneider,
Variety,
22 Apr. 2026
-
The film follows Colin (Harry Melling), a timid man who is swept off of his feet by Ray (Alexander Skarsgård), an impossibly handsome biker, who takes him on as his submissive.—
Diana Lodderhose,
Deadline,
20 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Critically, Michael doesn’t recoil when Jackie shares her horrific story.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
1 May 2026
-
Caregiver shortage And yet my instinct to recoil at this all collides with a harder reality.—
Catherine Thorbecke,
Mercury News,
30 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shrinking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shrinking. Accessed 8 May. 2026.
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