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

Derived Forms

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

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

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”

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

Synonym Study

See wince ¹. See decrease.

Example Sentences

In other words: shrink the government, and make it work more for the president’s men and less for the American people.

From Slate

Their made-up roles will let them opine on how to shrink the government and the budget, until Musk decides he’s bored and it’s time for him to be president.

From Los Angeles Times

The budget for the Home Office is set to shrink by 3.3% next year in real terms, with the bulk of this coming from assumed savings on asylum support.

From BBC

Proposition 187’s lessons seemed so obvious that a 2013 Republican National Committee report concluded that the party needed to tone down its anti-immigrant language lest “our Party’s appeal … continue to shrink to its core constituencies” of angry, older gringos.

From Los Angeles Times

Any decision to shrink agencies like the FDA would have to go through Congress, and changes in mifepristone regulations could also face legal challenges.

From Salon

Related Words

• decrease
• diminish
• drop off
• dwindle
• fall off
• lessen
• narrow
• reduce
• shorten
• shrivel
• wane
• weaken
• wither