SHRINK: Synonyms and Related Words. What is Another Word for SHRINK?

Need another word that means the same as “shrink”? Find 50 synonyms and 30 related words for “shrink” in this overview.

The synonyms of “Shrink” are: contract, shrivel, cringe, flinch, funk, quail, recoil, squinch, wince, shrivel up, wither, reduce, get smaller, become smaller, grow smaller, diminish, lessen, decrease, dwindle, narrow, shorten, slim, decline, fall off, drop off, condense, deflate, make smaller, truncate, abbreviate, slim down, pare down, concentrate, abridge, compress, squeeze, draw back, jump back, spring back, jerk back, pull back, start back, back away, retreat, withdraw, shy away, hang back, demur, head-shrinker, psychiatrist

Shrink as a Noun

Definitions of "Shrink" as a noun

According to the Oxford Dictionary of English, “shrink” as a noun can have the following definitions:

• A psychiatrist.
• A physician who specializes in psychiatry.

Synonyms of "Shrink" as a noun (2 Words)

head-shrinker	A physician who specializes in psychiatry.
psychiatrist	A medical practitioner specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of mental illness.

Usage Examples of "Shrink" as a noun

• You should see a shrink.

Shrink as a Verb

Definitions of "Shrink" as a verb

According to the Oxford Dictionary of English, “shrink” as a verb can have the following definitions:

• Become or make smaller in size or amount.
• Move back or away, especially because of fear or disgust.
• Draw back, as with fear or pain.
• Become withdrawn.
• Wither, as with a loss of moisture.
• Decrease in size, range, or extent.
• Fit something tightly on or on to another object by expanding it with heat and then cooling it rapidly after positioning.
• Reduce in size; reduce physically.
• Be averse to or unwilling to do (something difficult or unappealing.
• Become smaller or draw together.
• (of clothes or material) become smaller as a result of being immersed in water.

Synonyms of "Shrink" as a verb (48 Words)

abbreviate	Shorten (a word, phrase, or text. Network is often abbreviated to net.
abridge	Lessen, diminish, or curtail. The new law might abridge our freedom of expression.
back away	Support financial backing for.
become smaller	Enhance the appearance of.
compress	Make more compact by or as if by pressing. Her face compressed into a frown.
concentrate	Compress or concentrate. Luke wants to concentrate on his film career.
condense	Make (something) denser or more concentrated. The morning play on Saturday was condensed into a half hour package.
contract	Enter into a contractual arrangement. The local authority will contract with a wide range of agencies to provide services.
cringe	Draw back, as with fear or pain. He cringed away from the blow.
decline	(especially of the sun) move downwards. The roof declines here.
decrease	Decrease in size extent or range. The population of the area has decreased radically.
deflate	Become deflated or flaccid as by losing air. The budget deflated the economy.
demur	Enter a demurrer. Normally she would have accepted the challenge but she demurred.
diminish	Lessen the authority, dignity, or reputation of. The new law is expected to diminish the government s chances.
draw back	Suck in or take (air.
drop off	Give birth; used for animals.
dwindle	Diminish gradually in size, amount, or strength. Her savings dwindled down.
fall off	Fall or flow in a certain way.
flinch	Avoid doing or becoming involved in (something) through fear or anxiety. She flinched when they showed the slaughtering of the calf.
funk	Avoid (something) out of fear. I could have seen him this morning but I funked it.
get smaller	Overcome or destroy.
grow smaller	Cause to grow or develop.
hang back	Be suspended or hanging.
jerk back	Jump vertically, with legs stiff and back arched.
jump back	Run off or leave the rails.
lessen	Make smaller. The years have lessened the gap in age between us.
make smaller	Carry out or commit.
narrow	Make or become more narrow or restricted. The selection was narrowed.
pare down	Remove the edges from and cut down to the desired size.
pull back	Cause to move in a certain direction by exerting a force upon, either physically or in an abstract sense.
quail	Draw back, as with fear or pain.
recoil	Spring back, as from a forceful thrust. If man upsets his planetary ecosystem it will automatically recoil upon him.
reduce	Reduce in scope while retaining essential elements. He reduced his grandees to due obedience.
retreat	Make a retreat from an earlier commitment or activity. The company reported healthy figures but the shares retreated.
shorten	Edit by omitting or modifying parts considered indelicate. He shortened his trip due to illness.
shrivel	Wither, as with a loss of moisture. The fruit dried and shriveled.
shrivel up	Wither, as with a loss of moisture.
shy away	Throw quickly.
slim	Make oneself thinner, especially by dieting. Restructuring and slimming down the organization.
slim down	Take off weight.
spring back	Spring back spring away from an impact.
squeeze	Squeeze someone tightly in your arms usually with fondness. She squeezed herself into her tightest pair of jeans.
squinch	Draw back, as with fear or pain.
start back	Play in the starting lineup.
truncate	Shorten the duration or extent of. Erosion has truncated the ridges of the mountains.
wince	Make a face indicating disgust or dislike. She winced when she heard his pompous speech.
withdraw	Withdraw from active participation. For the cocaine user it is possible to withdraw without medication.
wither	Wither as with a loss of moisture. It is not true that old myths either die or wither away.

Usage Examples of "Shrink" as a verb

• I don't shrink from my responsibilities.
• Can you shrink this image?
• The workforce shrank to a thousand.
• She shrank away from him, covering her face.
• She wore a sweater which had shrunk slightly.
• The sun had shrunk and dried the wood.
• Hot water will shrink the sweater.
• The metal is unsuitable for shrinking on to wooden staves.
• He shrank back against the wall.

Associations of "Shrink" (30 Words)

abate	(of something unpleasant or severe) become less intense or widespread. Nothing abated his crusading zeal.
astringent	An astringent lotion applied to the skin to reduce bleeding from minor abrasions or as a cosmetic to make the skin less oily. Fresh blackcurrants have a rather astringent flavour.
atrophy	The process of atrophying or state of having atrophied. The imagination can atrophy from lack of use.
bowdlerize	Edit by omitting or modifying parts considered indelicate. Bowdlerize a novel.
curtail	Reduce in extent or quantity; impose a restriction on. I that am curtailed of this fair proportion.
decrease	The amount by which something decreases. The aisles were decreased in height.
decrement	A process of becoming smaller or shorter. The instruction decrements the accumulator by one.
deflate	Become deflated or flaccid as by losing air. Deflate a balloon.
depletion	Reduction in the number or quantity of something. The depletion of the ozone layer.
diminish	Lessen the authority, dignity, or reputation of. The new law is expected to diminish the government s chances.
downgrade	Rate lower; lower in value or esteem. A steep downgrade for which he had to put the car in second.
dwindle	Diminish gradually in size, amount, or strength. Her savings dwindled down.
encapsulate	Put in a short or concise form; reduce in volume. Encapsulated organs such as the kidneys.
expurgate	Remove matter thought to be objectionable or unsuitable from (a text or account. Editors heavily expurgated the novel before its initial publication.
extenuate	Lessen or to try to lessen the seriousness or extent of. Drawings of extenuated figures.
fade	A pass thrown so that the ball descends directly over the receiver’s shoulder, especially as they veer towards the sideline. The brakes faded needing a firmer push to bring the car to halt.
flinch	An act of flinching. She flinched at the acidity in his voice.
palliate	Provide physical relief, as from pain. There is no way to excuse or palliate his dirty deed.
recoil	The action of recoiling. If man upsets his planetary ecosystem it will automatically recoil upon him.
reduce	Reduce in scope while retaining essential elements. Reduce an image.
retrench	Make a reduction, as in one’s workforce. If there are excess staff they should be retrenched.
rundown	(of a company or industry) in a poor economic state. He gave his teammates a rundown on the opposition.
shorten	Reduce in scope while retaining essential elements. Before sail could be shortened she went on to her beam ends.
shrinkage	Process or result of becoming less or smaller. The material lost 2 inches per yard in shrinkage.
shrivel	Cause to feel worthless or insignificant. The fruit dried and shriveled.
wane	A gradual decline (in size or strength or power or number. Confidence in the dollar waned.
wilt	Any of a number of fungal or bacterial diseases of plants characterized by wilting of the foliage. Lady Beresford was beginning to wilt as she greeted the long line of guests.
wince	Draw back, as with fear or pain. She winced when she heard his pompous speech.
wither	Wither as with a loss of moisture. The grass had withered to an unappealing brown.
wizened	Shrivelled or wrinkled with age. A wizened little man with frizzy grey hair.