Meaning & use

shrink

verb·Everyday

Last updated

to become or make smaller in size, amount, or value.

See it in a sentence

The wool sweater shrank after being washed in hot water.

The company's market share has shrunk over the past decade.

A note on using this word

As informal slang, 'a shrink' refers to a psychiatrist or therapist; this usage is casual and can sound slightly dismissive, so it's best avoided in formal writing.

Words with a similar meaning

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Words with an opposite meaning

Another way to use it

2. noun

an informal term for a psychiatrist or psychotherapist

He joked that his shrink knew him better than his family did.

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