If you wish to get on in the world, you must not shrink from effort.
Source: tatoeba (266817)
Shrink
/ˈʃɹɪŋk/
Synonyms for "shrink" (306 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (62)
Strong matches (91)
Noun(13 words)
Verb(13 words)
deliquescedemurdepletedepreciatedesiccatedie awaydiminishdissipatedivedodgedraindraw backdraw indribble awaydrift awaydroopdropdrop offdry upduck
Show 42 more words
dwindleebbemacerateemaciateequivocateerodeevadefadefade awayfailfallfall awayfall backfall offfall shortfalterfeel painfeel the pangsfencefight shyfight shy offlagflinchfunkgogo awaygrimacehang backhang offhave a miseryhave qualmsheadshrinkerhedgehem and hawhesitatehold offhuddlehurthypnotherapistjiblanguishlessen
Adjective(3 words)
Related words (153)
let upmaceratemake bones aboutmeltmelt awayminimizemove awaymove offnarcotherapistparchparrypausepineplummetplungepoundpreshrinkpsychiatristpsychoanalystpsychoanalyzer
Show 82 more words
psychotherapeutistpsychotherapistpull awaypull backpull inpull outpussyfootput offquailrecederecoilreelreel backrestrictretireretractretreatretrocederun lowsagsanforizescruplesearsheer offshiftshift offshootshortenshrink backshrink fromshrinkershrivelshrivel upshyshy atshy awayshy offsidestepsinkslinksmartsquandersquinchstand offstartstart asidestart backstep asidestick atsticklestrainsubsidesufferswervetail offthinthrillthrobtingletrembleturn asidetwingetwitchwaneward offwastewaste awaywaverweakenwearwear awayweaselweasel outweazenwiden the distancewiltwincewithdrawwithdraw fromwitherwizenwrithe
Verb(24 words)
Noun(20 words)
Adjective(7 words)
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: psychiatrist, abate, ablate, about the bush, ache.
- Sentence evidence is available for shrink, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wordnet, opengloss, moby, derived_reverse, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "shrink".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "shrink"
Keep "shrink" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "shrink" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "shrink", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "shrink" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
12 entriesMore specific
9 entriesCollocations
10 entriescampus shrinkmental health professionalprivate practice shrinkschool shrinkshrink awayshrink backshrink downshrink in sizeshrink wrapthe shrink
Inflections
4 entriesDerivations
3 entriesAntonyms
1 entriesTranslations
13 translations across 7 languages.
Ancient Greek
1 entries- ὀκνέω verb (intransitive: to attempt to avoid an unwanted or intimidating duty)
Finnish
3 entries- laistaa verb (intransitive: to attempt to avoid an unwanted or intimidating duty)
- luikkia verb (intransitive: to attempt to avoid an unwanted or intimidating duty)
- luistaa verb (intransitive: to attempt to avoid an unwanted or intimidating duty)
German
1 entries- sich drücken verb (intransitive: to attempt to avoid an unwanted or intimidating duty)
Greek
1 entries- λουφάρω verb (intransitive: to attempt to avoid an unwanted or intimidating duty)
Japanese
1 entries- 尻込みする verb (intransitive: to attempt to avoid an unwanted or intimidating duty)
Korean
3 entries- 움츠러들다 verb (intransitive: to attempt to avoid an unwanted or intimidating duty)
- 움츠러지다 verb (intransitive: to attempt to avoid an unwanted or intimidating duty)
- 움츠리다 verb (intransitive: to attempt to avoid an unwanted or intimidating duty)
Spanish
3 entries- correrse verb (intransitive: to attempt to avoid an unwanted or intimidating duty)
- rehuir verb (intransitive: to attempt to avoid an unwanted or intimidating duty)
- zafarse verb (intransitive: to attempt to avoid an unwanted or intimidating duty)
Sample sentences
28 total sentences available.
He had but one desire: to shrink away and live among the lights and shadows.
Source: tatoeba (1910453)
That material's going to shrink if it's washed.
Source: tatoeba (2267869)
My jeans won't fit. Did they shrink?
Source: tatoeba (2369627)
Showing 4 of 28 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "shrink"?
Closest matches include psychiatrist, abate, ablate, about the bush, ache.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "shrink"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.