shrinking 1 of 3

adjective

as in afraid

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shrinking

2 of 3

noun

1
as in revulsion

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2
as in diminishing

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shrinking

3 of 3

verb

present participle of shrink
1
as in compressing
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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2
as in recoiling
to draw back in fear, pain, or disgust shrinking back from the approaching flames

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3
as in decreasing
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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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 shrinking
Adjective
Re-wash and dry the garment, using these tips to avoid re-shrinking, to prevent a residue from the conditioner from setting. — Hallie Milstein, Southern Living, 15 Jan. 2026
Noun
Before-and-after satellite images show a glacier shrinking and a river swelling. — Sarah Kaplan, Washington Post, 27 Aug. 2026 Progressive shrinking of specific regions of the brain, as well as accumulation of harmful proteins in the brain are associated with dementia. — Heidi Moawad, Verywell Health, 27 Aug. 2026 The ultra-soft,jersey-like fabric has a medium weight and a hint of stretch, which is meant to help resist pilling, shrinking, stretching out, and fading. — Caley Sturgill, Southern Living, 24 Aug. 2026 The political appetite for accepting the deindustrialization and critical dependencies that come with the flood of Chinese imports is finite and shrinking. — Michael B. G. Froman, Foreign Affairs, 13 Aug. 2026 Summary China's auto market is rapidly electrifying and shrinking, fueling an intense price war that's polarizing sales. — Jon Markman, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026 Marion Nestle, professor emerita of nutrition, food studies and public health at New York University, said the shrinking of the industry has amplified the consequences when contamination occurs. — Brandon Gomez, CNBC, 27 July 2026 Air-drying your compression socks can help them last longer and reduce shrinking or damage to fibers. — Bestreviews, Mercury News, 9 July 2026 With supply shrinking, the states continue squabbling. — Trevor Hughes, USA Today, 26 June 2026
Verb
Advanced robotics and a rapid rollout of AI should counter the shrinking workforce, while creating enough new jobs to keep youth disaffection at bay. — Ben Bland, semafor.com, 1 Sep. 2026 At the same time, the world’s glaciers are shrinking because of the warming planet. — Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American, 1 Sep. 2026 For those companies still accustomed to operating analog systems, there is often a shrinking pool of talent specializing in legacy technologies, with more of them retiring every year. — Timor Brik, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2026 As a bonus finding, hotter weather appeared to send everyone home sooner, shrinking trip durations across the board. — New Atlas, 1 Sep. 2026 Thomas Barwick | Digitalvision | Getty Images Even amid a backdrop of rising travel prices and shrinking seasonal discounts, shoulder season isn't disappearing altogether, Markovich said. — Greg Iacurci, CNBC, 31 Aug. 2026 America’s roadless areas, which jumpers specialize in reaching quickly, have been shrinking since 1939. — M. R. O’Connor, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2026 The organizations that have a clear understanding of what the data tells us – that the workforce is shifting, not shrinking – will be the ones that thrive in the future of work. — Maria Black, Fortune, 31 Aug. 2026 That Toll Brothers vote encapsulated south Folsom’s shrinking oak woodland. — Corey Schmidt, Sacbee.com, 25 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shrinking
  1. afraid
  2. revulsion
  3. diminishing
  4. compressing
  5. recoiling
  6. decreasing
  7. timid
  8. recoil
Adjective
  • Trust your board, adapt to your league mates and don’t be afraid to take the swings that can win you the league.
    — Jonathan Rubin, Charlotte Observer, 2 Sep. 2026
  • Brian Austin Green isn’t afraid to talk about what happens to men after 50.
    — Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of afraid
Noun
  • There is also a sense of real revulsion and anger about the concentration of wealth at the top, and a sense of wanting to create a more egalitarian country … that speaks to a sense of fundamental human dignity.
    — John Blake, CNN Money, 22 Aug. 2026
  • At the end of the third set, Gareth whispered into Marcy’s ear across the table, and her face took on a look of revulsion.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of revulsion
Noun
  • The team has been to the playoffs the past four years, generally with diminishing returns year after year.
    — Grant Brisbee, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Of recognizing the Sisyphean task ahead, the endless, unchanging road diminishing in the distance, and taking another step anyway.
    — Emily Temple, Literary Hub, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of diminishing
Verb
  • To gauge correctly, people can place a measuring tape around the abdomen, between the bottom of the ribs and the top of the hip bones, keeping the tape level and snug but not compressing the skin.
    — Faye Chiu, CNN Money, 26 Aug. 2026
  • These robust profits are compressing forward multiples, making stocks appear cheaper despite rising prices.
    — Andrew Graham, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of compressing
Verb
  • All of these features make for a wonderfully light-recoiling shotgun.
    — Alex Robinson, Outdoor Life, 12 Aug. 2026
  • This is typical of Hacks, a series that constantly positions itself to do something emotionally dangerous before recoiling toward a safer version of it.
    — Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 29 May 2026
Definition of recoiling
Verb
  • The vaccines don’t block all flu infections but do help prevent the worst outcomes, decreasing older adults’ hospitalizations by 31%, according to the Vaccine Integrity Project, a public health group based at the University of Minnesota.
    — Lauran Neergaard, Los Angeles Times, 2 Sep. 2026
  • If the network of user devices is substantial enough, every job can be routed to a nearby device, decreasing the latency.
    — Dina Genkina, IEEE Spectrum, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of decreasing
Adjective
  • Conversely, timid or softened feedback delivered to struggling employees creates a false sense of security, signaling that there is no urgency to adjust course.
    — Luciana Paulise, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Knight was timid, and his interview was practiced, Becker said.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of timid
Noun
  • With too much shotgun recoil, shooters tend to pull their head off the stock or get inconsistent with their gun mount.
    — Alex Robinson, Outdoor Life, 12 Aug. 2026
  • When collagen weakens or elastin loses its recoil, skin cannot fully retract to fit the smaller frame underneath.
    — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Charlotte Observer, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of recoil

Phrases Containing shrinking

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shrinkages
shrinking
shrinking violet
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Cite this Entry

“Shrinking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shrinking. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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