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Shrink vs Wilt - What's the difference?

shrink | wilt |

In transitive terms the difference between shrink and wilt

is that shrink is to draw back; to withdraw while wilt is to cause to fatigue; to exhaust.

In intransitive terms the difference between shrink and wilt

is that shrink is to cower or flinch while wilt is to fatigue; to lose strength.

shrink

English

Verb

  • To cause to become smaller.
    • The dryer shrank my sweater.
  • To become smaller; to contract.
    • This garment will shrink when wet.
  • * Francis Bacon
    • I have not found that water, by mixture of ashes, will shrink or draw into less room.
  • * Dryden
    • And shrink like parchment in consuming fire.
  • To cower or flinch.
    • Molly shrank away from the blows of the whip.
  • To draw back; to withdraw.
  • * Milton
    • The Libya Hammon shrinks his horn.
  • (figuratively) To withdraw or retire, as from danger.
  • * Alexander Pope
    • What happier natures shrink at with affright, / The hard inhabitant contends is right.
  • * Jowett (Thucyd.)
    • They assisted us against the Thebans when you shrank from the task.

    Synonyms

    * (avoid an unwanted task) funk, shirk

    Antonyms

    * (to cause to become smaller) expand, grow, enlarge, stretch * (become smaller) expand, grow, enlarge, stretch

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • shrinkage; contraction; recoil
    • Yet almost wish, with sudden shrink , / That I had less to praise. — Leigh Hunt.
  • (slang, sometimes, pejorative) A psychiatrist or therapist; a head-shrinker.
    • You need to see a shrink .
    My shrink said that he was an enabler, bad for me.
  • * 1994 , (Green Day),
    • I went to a shrink , to analyze my dreams. He said it's lack of sex that's bringing my down.''

    Usage notes

    * The slang sense was originally pejorative, expressing a distrust of practitioners in the field. It is now not as belittling or trivializing.

    Synonyms

    * head-shrinker

    wilt

    English

    Etymology 1

    Recorded since 1691, probably an alteration of welk, itself from (etyl) welken, presumed from (etyl) (preserved in modern inchoative verwelken) or (etyl) .

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To droop or become limp and flaccid (as a dying leaf or flower).
  • To fatigue; to lose strength.
  • * {{quote-news
    • , year=2011 , date=September 27 , author=Alistair Magowan , title=Bayern Munich 2 - 0 Man City , work=BBC Sport citation , passage=Not only were Jupp Heynckes' team pacey in attack but they were relentless in their pursuit of the ball once they had lost it, and as the game wore on they merely increased their dominance as City wilted in the Allianz Arena.}}
  • To cause to droop or become limp and flaccid (as a flower).
  • To cause to fatigue; to exhaust.

    • Noun

    (en noun)
  • The act of wilting or the state of being wilted.
  • Any of various plant diseases characterized by wilting.

    • Etymology 2

    Verb

    (head)
  • * Bible, Psalms
    • If thou triest my heart, if thou visitest me by night, if thou testest me, thou wilt find no wickedness in me.
    English auxiliary verb forms English ergative verbs English irregular second-person singular forms ----