WordGarden.ioshrunken
B2Pronunciation
UK
- /ʃrˈʌŋkən/
US
- /ˈʃrəŋkən/
Meanings
Adjective
made or become physically smaller than before
much reduced in amount, extent, or influence
Beyond the definition
Something described as shrunken has become noticeably smaller than it used to be, often because of heat, dryness, age, or damage. Think of a favorite sweater put in the dryer by mistake: it may come out too small and tight. The word is used most often for physical things, but it can also be used in a more figurative way. A face can look shrunken after illness, and a room can feel shrunken when it seems less full of life than before.
You might describe fruit left too long in the sun as "shrunken and dry," or talk about a "shrunken sweater" after a bad wash. The verb is usually "shrank" in the past tense and "shrunk" as the usual past participle, but shrunken is common as an adjective before a noun, as in "a shrunken head" or "shrunken clothes."
"Shrunken" describes something that has undergone a reduction in size—not just in physical dimensions, but often figuratively as well. It implies a departure from a previous, larger, or more robust state. This physical shrinking can happen due to various environmental factors: heat causing fabric fibers to tighten, cold contracting metal, or the passage of time causing organic materials to wither.
You'll most often encounter "shrunken" when describing clothing that has become too small after a mishap in the laundry: "The wool shirt was shrunken beyond repair." However, the term extends far beyond textiles. In a broader sense, a "shrunken economy" suggests a decline in financial activity and reach, while a "shrunken forest" might indicate the scars of deforestation.
Figuratively, "shrunken" is a powerful way to describe emotional or social states. Someone who is timid and withdrawn might be described as having a "shrunken personality," suggesting they are living as a smaller version of themselves. Similarly, when resources or opportunities dwindle, they are often referred to as "shrunken." The term carries a poignant sense of loss—the idea that something once substantial has been diminished in size, importance, or vitality.
Historically and culturally, the word is famously associated with tsantsa, or shrunken heads, created by certain Indigenous groups in the Amazon basin. While this is a very specific ritualistic example, it reinforces the word's core meaning: a deliberate or consequential reduction of something from its original, natural proportions. Whether describing a garment, an economy, or a state of mind, "shrunken" signifies a decrease from a former condition, often with implications of change or decline.
Examples
- 1
Laundry
After one hot wash, my wool sweater came out shrunken and too tight to wear.
- 2
Illness
By the end of the long illness, his face looked pale and shrunken.
- 3
River level
In late summer, the river was shrunken to a muddy stream.
- Patternshrunken to + size/state
reduced until it became that size or state
- 4
School budget
With a shrunken budget this year, the school canceled several art classes.
See also
Similar
Shades of meaning
Contrast
Used with (collocations)
- shrunken clothes
- shrunken head
- shrunken face
Word family
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Forms and spellings
1 form open this card.
Main spelling
- shrunkenverbadjective