SHRUNK Synonyms: 120 Similar and Opposite Words

shrunk

verb

variants or shrunken

past participle 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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in flinched

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

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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

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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 shrunk But optimistic lenses might cite the relative improvement by arguing that gap has shrunk when compared to the roughly $26,100 gap a year ago, and nearly $28,900 two years ago. — Phillip M. Bailey, USA Today, 7 Aug. 2026 China remains deeply cautious about using its military beyond its immediate periphery, and Russia’s footprint in the Middle East has only shrunk since the fall of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. — Michael Fuchs, Foreign Affairs, 6 Aug. 2026 As the population grew and construction and pollution crept closer to water sources, many springs have since dried up or shrunk into thin trickles. — Umar Farooq, Christian Science Monitor, 6 Aug. 2026 That share shrunk steadily, because suburban white families have largely stopped applying. — State Rep Maryam Khan, Hartford Courant, 5 Aug. 2026 Africa’s glaciers have shrunk by more than 90% since the late 19th century. — Tom Chivers, semafor.com, 5 Aug. 2026 Parts of the Danube, Europe’s second-largest river, which winds through 10 countries, have shrunk to unprecedented lows amid the record heat, including in Hungary and neighboring countries. — Billy Stockwell, CNN Money, 3 Aug. 2026 As hearing notice times shrunk, that no-show rate doubled to 40% by this June, the organization said. — ABC News, 1 Aug. 2026 Over the years, Axell said those wineries have shrunk their grape orders. — Lizzie Kane, Sacbee.com, 29 July 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for shrunk

Verb

Experts note thin conviction and compressed volatility due to summer illiquidity, with some expecting consolidation to persist for weeks.

— Charles Lloyd Bovaird II, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
Picture 15 days of clothing – three pairs of pants, eight shirts, two sweaters, the works – compressed down to a single carry-on.

— Matt Emma, USA Today, 6 Aug. 2026

Definition of compressed

Verb

Sipp slightly flinched his left arm before throwing a pitch to Emmanuel Burriss, allowing Miguel Tejada to score and sending San Francisco to its fourth straight win.

— Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 25 June 2026
The kid never flinched, played almost every game.

— David Aldridge, New York Times, 21 June 2026

Definition of flinched

Verb

Drought has led to decreased snowpack and water flowing into the river.

— Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 7 Aug. 2026
Crimes against society, including prostitution, drug and weapons offenses, decreased slightly, going from 278 incidents last year to 227 incidents so far this year.

— Carolyn Stein, Chicago Tribune, 6 Aug. 2026

Definition of decreased

Verb

Doctors determined that he was born with symbrachydactyly, which constricted blood flow to the hand and limited the full development of the three fingers and palm.

— Edward Lee, Baltimore Sun, 20 July 2026
Not feeling constricted, for one, plus breathability and maybe the ability to slip shoes on without laces.

— Kayla Becker, Travel + Leisure, 16 July 2026

Definition of constricted

Verb

The influence and interest of the United States in the islands must be increased and not diminished.

— Britannica Editors, Encyclopedia Britannica, 11 Aug. 2026
Then, there is the rise of China, which has shifted Washington’s strategic focus away from Europe and diminished NATO’s centrality to American concerns.

— Ian Buruma, New Yorker, 10 Aug. 2026

Definition of diminished

Verb

Quinn declined, however, to move Coleman earlier in camp when starting center Nick Allegretti went down with a calf injury, opting instead to use Julian Good-Jones and let Coleman focus on left guard.

— Nicki Jhabvala, New York Times, 9 Aug. 2026
The case was rejected by the District Attorney’s office in April 2024, and the Santa Monica City Attorney’s office declined to press charges.

— Kelly Allen, PEOPLE, 9 Aug. 2026

Definition of declined

Browse Nearby Words

shrugs off

shrunk

shtick

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“Shrunk.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shrunk. Accessed 14 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of shrunk

verb

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