shrank
Withdrew in fear
Shrank is the past tense of shrink.
Something that shrank became smaller: The sweater shrank in the wash.
A person who shrank from something recoiled or withdrew: She shrank from the confrontation.
Shrunk is an alternative past tense, more common in American English, and the standard past participle: has shrunk.
Recoiled involuntarily from threat
- wincedRecoiled from pain
- cringedRecoiled from disgust
- withdrewPulled out or back
- coweredShrank back in fright
quailed · blanched · shied · recoiled · retreated · hesitated · balked · faltered
Reduced in size
- compressedReduced by pressure
- reducedMade less in amount
- diminishedMade or became smaller
- condensedMade more compact
compacted · narrowed · constricted · tightened · deflated · withered · shriveled · dwindled
Moved backward from advance
- withdrewPulled out or back
- avoidedDeliberately stayed away from
- evadedSuccessfully avoided capture
- shirkedAvoided obligated tasks
dodged · sidestepped · fled · escaped · hid · distanced · recoiled · abstained
flinched
Recoiled involuntarily from threat
cowered · quailed · blanched · shied · recoiled · retreated · hesitated · balked · faltered · shuddered
contracted
Reduced in size
- compressedReduced by pressure
- reducedMade less in amount
- diminishedMade or became smaller
condensed · compacted · narrowed · constricted · tightened · deflated · withered · shriveled · dwindled · tapered
retreated
Moved backward from advance
shirked · dodged · sidestepped · fled · escaped · hid · distanced · recoiled · abstained · demurred
decreased
Became smaller in amount
- reducedMade less in amount
- lessenedMade or became smaller
- diminishedMade or became smaller
dwindled · waned · subsided · abated · ebbed · faded · dropped · fell · plummeted · contracted
washed
Cleaned with water
cotton · garment · dryer · heat · textile · preshrunk · warped · distorted · altered · tightened
shrankgrew
Increased gradually
increased · expanded · multiplied · amassed · accumulated
shrankadvanced
Far along in development
approached · confronted · leaned in · faced · charged
- shrank awayRecoiled from something frightening
- shrank backWithdrew from something frightening
shrink, shrinking, shrunken, shrunk, shrinkage, shrinks, shrinkable, shrinker, unshrinkable