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
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of shrinks
This is tied to a low‑hire, low‑fire labor market, the rapid automation of entry‑level roles, and a tech industry whose workforce is getting older as Gen Z’s presence shrinks.
—
Ashley Lutz, Fortune, 3 Jan. 2026
Antarctic Ozone hole shrinks The ozone hole over Antarctica has shrunk to its fifth-smallest size in more than three decades, according to NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
—Solcyré Burga, Time, 26 Dec. 2025
Rick Moranis plays a genius inventor whose miniaturization device accidentally shrinks his children to a quarter of an inch.
—Chris Snellgrove, Entertainment Weekly, 26 Dec. 2025
Cooper shrinks the width of the pocket with power off one edge.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 21 Dec. 2025
And when competition shrinks, consumers and creators lose.
—Joseph M. Singer, Deadline, 19 Dec. 2025
The bill also shrinks the current six-year statute of limitations for challenging a permit decision to 150 days.
—Garrett Downs, CNBC, 16 Dec. 2025
The impacts of climate change on the bears' food sources and hibernation cycles has been cited by experts as a key factor, but there are also implications as Japan's aging population shrinks and humans abandon more rural areas.
—CBS News, 12 Dec. 2025
Researchers believe as the lake shrinks, there is less room for dolphins, putting them at greater risk of collision with boats and ferries.
—Laura Paddison, CNN Money, 6 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shrinks
Verb
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The Cosmic Pathway compresses 13 billion years of history into a single 360-foot-long ramp.—
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The new system compresses that capability into a device spanning just a few square centimeters, without sacrificing power, pulse duration, or bandwidth.—
Verb
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But the Oscar-winning filmmaker recoils at being called a visionary.—
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Some former students, including Mamdani, who signed up for Kagan’s 12th-grade AP World History class, have referred to themselves as Kaganites, a term Kagan literally recoils from.—
Verb
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This risk decreases as the storm moves away.—
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Prescribed medication is used to manage discomfort, which usually decreases noticeably after the first week.—
Verb
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Cold water immersion constricts blood vessels, reduces swelling, numbs sore areas, and flushes lactic acid from the muscles.—
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Without this process, the air would be colder and drier, which irritates and constricts the airways and can lead to inflammation.—
Verb
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Sheinbaum quickly moves away and visibly flinches as the man attempts to put his arm around her.—
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Snakes must move incredibly quickly to sink their fangs into prey before the victim flinches.—
Verb
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But those long hours sitting at a desk, commuting by car or public transport, and spending leisure time in front of screens also diminishes opportunities for the legs to be challenged.—
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Give ample space to large vehicles - Trucks or buses can create a water spray that diminishes visibility.—
Verb
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Directed by Shōta Goshozono, the film condenses the anime’s Shibuya Incident arc as Yuji Itadori and his allies face a coordinated curse attack on Halloween.—
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As air flows over cold evaporator coils in the unit, the moisture condenses into water droplets that are collected in a compartment to be emptied or drained later.—
Verb
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Bryan winces after weighing in at 597 lbs.—
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When the crowd begins hooting in response, Nanjiani winces.—
Cite this Entry
“Shrinks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shrinks. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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