SHRANK Synonyms: 119 Similar and Opposite Words

shrank

verb

variants or shrunk

Definition of shrank

past tense of shrink

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

as in recoiled

to draw back in fear, pain, or disgust shrinking back from the approaching flames

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of shrank The number of congressional battlegrounds nationwide has shrunk with gerrymandering and political polarization, making the district one of about two dozen races that will decide the House majority. — Justine McDaniel, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2026 Its gross domestic product has shrunk, and its 10 million residents have endured blackouts, food shortages and inflation. — ABC News, 23 Oct. 2026 Then came required state and federal taxes, so the prize shrank yet again to $864,126, lottery officials said. — Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 23 Oct. 2026 Once defined by the size and strength of its labor movement, the number of unionized workers in Latin America’s biggest economy has shrunk by almost half in the last 15 or so years. — Jeronimo Gonzalez, semafor.com, 22 Oct. 2026 Her company’s relationships with some of those schools have shrunk over time, while the online school has expanded its payouts. — Claire Heddles, Miami Herald, 22 Oct. 2026 Last year, the team presented results from a study of 16 people with a rare eye cancer whose tumors shrunk after receiving an experimental cell therapy. — Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 21 Oct. 2026 By the fourth infusion, scans showed the tumor had shrunk by 50%. — Alice Park, Time, 21 Oct. 2026 As transistors shrank and chips grew denser, the process called for greater precision. — Gideon Lewis-Kraus, New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for shrank

Verb

One solution exploits a mismatch between the way PHP measures compressed files and decoded files.

— David Goldman, CNN Money, 23 Oct. 2026
Recent internal spending data shows that this divide has compressed significantly since July.

— Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of compressed

Verb

The upper atmosphere recoiled so violently that radio communications were disrupted.

— Robin George Andrews, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026
Even a few Republican loyalists have recoiled at the extravagant pageantry, seemingly designed to flatter Xi and awe a domestic audience, although the absence of TV cameras at the Rose Garden ceremony undermined that low-ambition objective.

— Andy Browne, semafor.com, 26 Sep. 2026

Definition of recoiled

Verb

Telecom stocks — Shares of AT & T and T-Mobile fell more than 5% each, while Verizon shares decreased 1% on a Bloomberg News report that SpaceX is in private talks to lease 80,000 cell towers.

— Paulina Likos, CNBC, 23 Oct. 2026
As technology has advanced, launch costs have decreased, and satellites have become more efficient, smaller and cheaper to build.

— David Zamora, Space.com, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of decreased

Verb

Finally, the wind seemed to permanently lie down, though storm clouds still haunted the horizon, forcing the sunset to squeeze beneath them, its rays condensed into a lurid, painterly slash.

— Heidi Julavits, Vogue, 20 Oct. 2026
Whisk together condensed chicken soup, sour cream, and heavy cream to create a creamy base, then add a splash of brine from the pepperoncini jar along with plenty of sliced pickled and fresh peppers.

— Elizabeth Nelson, Southern Living, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of condensed

Verb

Griess, the superintendent of the National Mall and Memorial Parks, said the 430 trees that were felled were not identified as hazardous or raising safety concerns.

— Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 12 Oct. 2026
Yet trees that took a millennium to grow can be felled in under an hour.

— Annika Hammerschlag, Los Angeles Times, 16 Sep. 2026

Definition of fell

Verb

Back on the broadcast, Nantz immediately winced and grabbed his hand.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 20 Oct. 2026
My husband walked into the room and winced as one of the women changed into a perfect re-creation of an American Girl–doll outfit (very theater kid, not his thing).

— Kaitlyn Tiffany, The Atlantic, 2 Aug. 2026

Definition of winced

Browse Nearby Words

showy

shrank

shred

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Style

“Shrank.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shrank. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of shrank

verb

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