What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
recoil
Example
The loud bang made him recoil in fear. [recoil: verb]
Example
The gun's recoil was too strong for her to handle. [recoil: noun]
Example
She recoiled at the thought of eating snails. [recoiled: past tense]
shrink
Example
The sweater shrank in the wash. [shrank: past tense]
Example
The company's profits shrank due to the pandemic. [shrink: verb]
Example
He tends to shrink away from social situations. [shrink: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Shrink is more commonly used than recoil in everyday language. Shrink is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while recoil is less common and typically used in the context of fear or danger.
Whatโs the difference in the tone of formality between recoil and shrink?
Both recoil and shrink are neutral in formality and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
