1. (v. i.) To wrinkle, bend, or curl; to shrivel; hence, to contract into a less extent or compass; to gather together; to become compacted.

2. (v. i.) To withdraw or retire, as from danger; to decline action from fear; to recoil, as in fear, horror, or distress.

3. (v. i.) To express fear, horror, or pain by contracting the body, or part of it; to shudder; to quake.

4. (v. t.) To cause to contract or shrink; as, to shrink finnel by immersing it in boiling water.

5. (v. t.) To draw back; to withdraw.

6. (n.) The act shrinking; shrinkage; contraction; also, recoil; withdrawal.

Sanforize abate ablate about the bush ache agonize ail analyst anguish attenuate avoid avoid the limelight balk at bate be eaten away beat around beg the question behavior therapist blanch blench blink blush unseen boggle clinical psychologist compress concentrate condense constrict consume consume away contract corrode cower cringe crouch crumble decline decrease deliquesce demur deplete depreciate desiccate die away diminish dissipate dive dodge drain draw back draw in dribble away drift away droop drop drop off dry up duck dwindle ebb emacerate emaciate equivocate erode evade fade fade away fall fall away fall back fall off fall short falter feel pain feel the pangs fence fight shy of flag flinch funk go go away grimace hang back hang off have a misery have qualms headshrinker hedge hem and haw hesitate hold off huddle hurt hypnotherapist jib languish lessen let up macerate make bones about melt away move away move off narcotherapist parch parry pause pine plummet plunge pound preshrink psychiatrist psychoanalyst psychoanalyzer psychotherapeutist psychotherapist pull away pull back pull in pull out pussyfoot put off quail recede recoil reel back retire retract retreat retrocede run low sag scruple sear sheer off shift shift off shoot shrink back shrink from shrinker shrivel shrivel up shy shy at shy away shy off sidestep sink slink smart squander squinch stand off start start aside start back step aside stick at stickle strain subside suffer swerve tail off thin thrill throb tingle turn aside twinge twitch wane ward off waste waste away waver weaken wear wear away weasel weasel out weazen widen the distance wilt wince withdraw withdraw from wither wizen writhe