shrank

[shrangk] / ʃræŋk /

VERB

become smaller

Synonyms

STRONGEST

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

STRONG

compress concentrate condense constrict contract deflate fail waste wrinkle

WEAK

fall short grow smaller waste away

Antonyms

STRONGEST

develop enlarge expand extend grow increase lengthen raise rise strengthen

STRONG

blow up loosen stretch

WEAK

face meet take on

VERB

recoil, shy away

Synonyms

STRONGEST

recede retreat

STRONG

blench boggle contract cower cringe crouch demur flinch huddle quail refuse retire scruple shudder slink wince withdraw

WEAK

draw back hang back

Antonyms

STRONGEST

advance forge

STRONG

accept allow consent face meet stretch

WEAK

develop enlarge expand grow take on

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Oracle said its head count shrank by about 13% during the previous fiscal year.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 23, 2026

That number shrank to 9,643 the next year and 2,126 in 1992, before sinking to as few as a few dozen per year in the early 2000s.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 19, 2026

There was little reaction to news that Chinese retail sales shrank last month for the first time since 2022.

From Barron's • Jun. 16, 2026

Fixed-asset investment shrank 4.1% on the year in January-May, worse than from the 1.6% decline recorded during the first four months of the year and the 2.0% drop anticipated in the WSJ poll.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 16, 2026

Mud closed around the stick for a moment, then shrank away, leaving a small gap.

From "Root Magic" by Eden Royce