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View synonyms for

shrink

[ shringk ]

verb (used without object)

shrank or, often, shrunk shrunk or shrunken shrinking.
  1. to draw back, as in retreat or avoidance:

    to shrink from danger; to shrink from contact.

    Synonyms: , ,

  2. to contract or lessen in size, as from exposure to conditions of temperature or moisture:

    This cloth will not shrink if washed in lukewarm water.

  3. to become reduced in extent or scope.

    Antonyms:



verb (used with object)

shrank or, often, shrunk shrunk or shrunken shrinking.
  1. to cause to shrink or contract; reduce.
  2. Textiles. to cause (a fabric) to contract during finishing, thus preventing shrinkage, during laundering, of the garments made from it.

noun

  1. an act or instance of shrinking.
  2. a shrinking movement.
  3. shrinkage.
  4. Also Also called head shrinker. Slang. a psychotherapist, psychiatrist, or psychoanalyst.

shrink

/ ʃɪŋ /

verb

  1. to contract or cause to contract as from wetness, heat, cold, etc
  2. to become or cause to become smaller in size
  3. introften foll byfrom
    1. to recoil or withdraw

      to shrink from the sight of blood

    2. to feel great reluctance (at)

      to shrink from killing an animal

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

noun

  1. the act or an instance of shrinking
  2. slang.
    a psychiatrist
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Derived Forms

  • ˈ԰쾱Բ, adverb
  • ˈ԰쾱Բ, adjective
  • ˈ԰첹, adjective
  • ˈ԰, noun
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Other Word Forms

  • ԰a· adjective
  • ԰iԲ· adverb
  • non·԰a· adjective
  • ԴDz·԰iԲ adjective
  • non·԰iԲ· adverb
  • v·԰ verb overshrank or, often, overshrunk overshrunk or overshrunken overshrinking
  • un·԰a· adjective
  • ܲ·԰iԲ adjective
  • un·԰iԲ· adverb
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Word History and Origins

Origin of shrink1

First recorded before 900, and in 1955–60 shrink fordef 9; Middle English schrinken, Old English scrincan; cognate with Middle Dutch schrinken, Swedish skrynka “to shrink,” Norwegian skrukka “old shrunken woman”
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Word History and Origins

Origin of shrink1

Old English scrincan; related to Old Norse skrokkr torso, Old Swedish skrunkin wrinkled, Old Norse hrukka a crease, Icelandic skrukka wrinkled woman
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Synonym Study

See wince 1. See decrease.
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

That I had to shrink, impress or overachieve to deserve it.

From

Japan's economy is under pressure because of its decreasing and ageing population, which means its workforce is shrinking and social care costs are ballooning.

From

The chain offering burgers, chicken sandwiches and curly fries is the latest to shrink its footprint amid inflationary pressures and high labor costs.

From

But with his track closed for the foreseeable future and the pool of racing regulars shrinking, he says there is "very little possibility" of another track opening soon.

From

“My parents took me to a shrink to figure out why I didn’t talk.”

From

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Shrinershrinkage