SHRINKS Synonyms: 117 Similar and Opposite Words

shrinks

verb

present tense third-person singular of shrink

as in compresses

to become smaller in size or volume through the drawing together of particles of matter the sweater will shrink a little when washed

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in recoils

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in decreases

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 shrinks Exercise also increases levels of BDNF, a growth factor that helps maintain the hippocampus, the part of the brain responsible for forming new and long-term memories, and one that often shrinks in dementia, said Ashwini Nadkarni, assistant professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. —

The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Apr. 2026 If Republicans’ majority shrinks — or Democrats win control of the Senate in November — Republicans would have a much harder time confirming a conservative justice. —

Cate Martel, The Hill, 20 Apr. 2026 What’s good for United could be a downer for travelers, and traditionally, anything that shrinks the list of rivals linking the same two metros from a longer roster to just one or two raises red flags for regulators. —

Shawn Tully, Fortune, 17 Apr. 2026 The original is set in an Australian rainforest populated by fairies, one of whom accidentally shrinks a logger to fairy size. —

Mike Fleming Jr, Deadline, 17 Apr. 2026 In real-world terms, the number likely shrinks closer to 62 miles (100 km). —

New Atlas, 15 Apr. 2026 The Miniature Wife Elizabeth Banks and Matthew Macfadyen star in this dramedy about an egocentric scientist on the verge of a breakthrough who accidentally shrinks his wife, a Pulitzer-winning author who hasn’t written a lick in more than a decade. —

Rebecca Aizin, PEOPLE, 10 Apr. 2026 As the labor force shrinks, economic output and tax revenues may contract while demand for pensions, healthcare, and social security rises—a financial burden that will be borne by an increasingly smaller workforce. —

Encyclopedia Britannica, 6 Apr. 2026 But anyone who has ever watched baseball knows every umpire has their own unique strike zone, and sometimes that zone grows and shrinks depending on the situation. —

Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 5 Apr. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for shrinks

Verb

Ackerly explains what happens when AI compresses all of that.

— Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 25 Apr. 2026
The memory foam feels plush yet supportive, and the pillow compresses down to fit easily in a carry-on when not in use.

— Samantha Leal, Travel + Leisure, 18 Apr. 2026