1
as in compresses
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 recoils
to draw back in fear, pain, or disgust
shrinking back from the approaching flames
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in decreases
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 shrinks
The hippocampus is primarily responsible for memory and learning, and commonly shrinks, or atrophies, after a stroke.
—
New Atlas, 6 Sep. 2025
This means green signals are inherently weaker, and when outdoor sunlight adds noise, the measurement range shrinks even further, and accuracy deteriorates.
—Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 3 Sep. 2025
As the images progress, the left pupil shrinks to a narrow black speck while the right eye remains normally dilated, giving the feline an unmistakably lopsided expression.
—Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Sep. 2025
As the number of humanities students shrinks, the proportion of those who come from the upper 1% is rising fast.
—Liz Doe Stone, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025
Years of low immigration, combined with Japan’s plunging birth rate, have left gaping holes in the workforce as the elderly population swells and the younger population shrinks – pushing the government to seek out more international tourists and migrant workers in recent years.
—Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 27 Aug. 2025
As the world shrinks for Africans, with growing travel to places like Lagos, Accra, Johannesburg, and Cape Town, carnival in Grenada strikes me as a necessary diasporic destination, too.
—Mankaprr Conteh, Rolling Stone, 23 Aug. 2025
Compared to official sports merchandise, counterfeit T-shirts and other apparel are nearly always of inferior quality and craftsmanship — a sleeve that’s too short, fabric that shrinks when washed or dyes that cause designs to fade — resulting in disappointed buyers.
—Margaret Buranen, USA Today, 20 Aug. 2025
Everything else outside Nima’s voice shrinks into nothing but a guilty distraction from Gaza.
—Nima Hasan
august 15, Literary Hub, 15 Aug. 2025
New Atlas, 6 Sep. 2025
This means green signals are inherently weaker, and when outdoor sunlight adds noise, the measurement range shrinks even further, and accuracy deteriorates.
—Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 3 Sep. 2025
As the images progress, the left pupil shrinks to a narrow black speck while the right eye remains normally dilated, giving the feline an unmistakably lopsided expression.
—Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Sep. 2025
As the number of humanities students shrinks, the proportion of those who come from the upper 1% is rising fast.
—Liz Doe Stone, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025
Years of low immigration, combined with Japan’s plunging birth rate, have left gaping holes in the workforce as the elderly population swells and the younger population shrinks – pushing the government to seek out more international tourists and migrant workers in recent years.
—Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 27 Aug. 2025
As the world shrinks for Africans, with growing travel to places like Lagos, Accra, Johannesburg, and Cape Town, carnival in Grenada strikes me as a necessary diasporic destination, too.
—Mankaprr Conteh, Rolling Stone, 23 Aug. 2025
Compared to official sports merchandise, counterfeit T-shirts and other apparel are nearly always of inferior quality and craftsmanship — a sleeve that’s too short, fabric that shrinks when washed or dyes that cause designs to fade — resulting in disappointed buyers.
—Margaret Buranen, USA Today, 20 Aug. 2025
Everything else outside Nima’s voice shrinks into nothing but a guilty distraction from Gaza.
—Nima Hasan
august 15, Literary Hub, 15 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shrinks
Verb
-
This compresses the heart and keeps blood flowing until the heart restarts or professional help arrives.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
6 Sep. 2025
-
Circana’s Liquid Mix compresses that cycle to minutes, vastly improving how brands can respond to market signals.—
Kiri Masters,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Treatment during the chronic, asymptomatic phase may prevent or slow disease progression, though effectiveness decreases with time.—
Matthew Binnicker,
Forbes.com,
9 Sep. 2025
-
This risk decreases as the storm moves away.—
STAR-TELEGRAM WEATHER BOT,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
6 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
If Weiler’s construction provides the opportunity to see a series of fine actors at work with delicate tête-à-têtes, the neatness of the structure constricts some of the feeling.—
Jackson McHenry,
Vulture,
8 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Bingo momentarily flinches, and Atlas rolls onto his back in response.—
Lydia Patrick,
MSNBC Newsweek,
22 Aug. 2025
-
Months later, Anderson, 50, still avoids crowds, doesn’t go out after dark and flinches when the doorbell rings.—
USA Today,
USA Today,
7 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
As the shoreline’s clarity diminishes, Berry stressed the importance of this research for conservation efforts, especially doing it collaboratively.—
Amelia Wu,
Sacbee.com,
11 Sep. 2025
-
Give ample space to large vehicles - Trucks or buses can create a water spray that diminishes visibility.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
At the Martian poles in summer, the frozen carbon dioxide sublimates – transforming from a frozen solid to a gas – and then at the winter pole condenses back into a frozen solid.—
Joel S. Levine,
The Conversation,
8 Sep. 2025
-
The water condenses on the glass and flows down a tube to emerge as fresh, drinkable water.—
Laura Paddison,
CNN Money,
6 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
These double peaks occur when solar activity spikes, subsides, and then returns a few years later.—
Jamie Carter,
Forbes.com,
1 Sep. 2025
-
Fortunately, the issue subsides once the instruments and vocals stack on top.—
Mark Knapp,
PC Magazine,
25 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
If the restructuring collapses, those investors can pull their money—a potentially catastrophic blow for a company planning to burn through $115 billion by 2029.—
Sheryl Estrada,
Fortune,
9 Sep. 2025
-
East Chicago city cameras appear to show the two men in an argument before Ramirez collapses.—
Meredith Colias-Pete,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Shrinks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shrinks. Accessed 14 Sep. 2025.
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