shrunken

[ shruhng-kuhn ]

verb

1. a past participle of shrink.

adjective

1. contracted or lessened in size, extent, or scope:

   Many state agencies are operating with a shrunken workforce.

shrunken

/ ˈʃrʌŋkən /

verb

1. a past participle of shrink

adjective

1. usually prenominal reduced in size

   a shrunken head

Other Words From

• un·shrunken adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of shrunken¹

First recorded before 1000, for the adjective

Example Sentences

Alongside the skull - which is from a Belgian collection – the sale listed shrunken heads from the Jivaro people of South America and skulls from the Ekoi people of West Africa.

From BBC

With Sofia, though, LeFranc demonstrates an understanding of an underlying frustration with how these stories depict female characters and a misogynistic culture's shrunken regard for female power.

From Salon

The Swan auction house, in Tetsworth, Oxfordshire, had listed objects including skulls, shrunken heads and other remains originating from communities across the globe.

From BBC

There are too many roadblocks for that to happen, including a lack of chargers and a shrunken pool of manufacturers that can deliver electric buses.

From Los Angeles Times

They could have depicted all that gear being cheerfully shrunken and squeezed into one iPad, awaiting creative fun.

From New York Times