What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
shrivel
Example
The grapes shriveled in the sun and turned into raisins. [shriveled: past tense]
Example
The flowers began to shrivel and wilt without water. [shrivel: verb]
Example
The old man's skin had shriveled with age. [shriveled: adjective]
shrink
Example
The sweater shrank in the wash and no longer fit. [shrank: past tense]
Example
The company had to shrink its workforce due to financial difficulties. [shrink: verb]
Example
She tends to shrink away from confrontation and conflict. [shrink: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Shrink is more commonly used than shrivel in everyday language, and is more versatile in terms of usage.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between shrivel and shrink?
Both shrivel and shrink are relatively formal words, but shrink is more versatile and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
