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View synonyms for shrink

shrink

[ shringk ]

verb (used without object)

, shrank [shrangk] or, often, shrunk [shruhngk]; shrunk or shrunk·en [shruhng, -k, uh, n]; shrink·ing.
  1. to draw back, as in retreat or avoidance:

    to shrink from danger; to shrink from contact.

    Synonyms: quail, recoil, withdraw

  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: increase



verb (used with object)

, shrank [shrangk] or, often, shrunk [shruhngk]; shrunk or shrunk·en [shruhng, -k, uh, n]; shrink·ing.
  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

/ ʃrɪŋk /

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



noun

  1. the act or an instance of shrinking
  2. slang.
    a psychiatrist

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Derived Forms

  • ˈshrinkable, adjective
  • ˈshrinker, noun
  • ˈshrinking, adjective
  • ˈshrinkingly, adverb

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Other Words From

  • shrinka·ble adjective
  • shrinking·ly adverb
  • non·shrinka·ble adjective
  • non·shrinking adjective
  • non·shrinking·ly adverb
  • over·shrink verb overshrank or, often, overshrunk overshrunk or overshrunken overshrinking
  • un·shrinka·ble adjective
  • un·shrinking adjective
  • un·shrinking·ly 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

Kurz called time on the coalition and in elections last September the Freedom Party saw its share of the vote shrink.

From Ozy

The lever that’s now taking charge as demand recedes is the ongoing big shrink in inventory.

From Fortune

The big looming shrink in pollution permits raises questions about the sustainability of the EV-maker’s bottom line.

From Fortune

A shrink later told me the dream represented “safe danger,” but I never understood half of what he said, including that.

Frasier is a radio shrink and Roz is his producer and friend.

Her magical ability to shrink people just by staring at them is also put to great use here.

They would go to the store with a repackaged and shrink-wrapped broken item inside a new box and return it for full value.

I learned some things I can't unlearn: human kneecaps look like rocks; bones when burnt, shrink and twist.

Republicans can change their brand, appeal to the electorate, shrink government, grow the economy, and save capitalism.

The underlying economic factors that cause deficits to shrink often create circumstances that push them to shrink even faster.

Great was the surprise of Alf at the honour and labour thus thrust upon him, but he did not shrink from it.

Even the lawless classes of society generally shrink from blood.

It continues to grow after birth, but later begins to shrink and nearly disappears in the adult.

They brave dangers and risk consequences; shall we shrink from them?

She had held herself in her heart as his promised wife for six long weeks, how could she shrink from him?

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Shrinershrinkage