shrinkable

4.1

Able to become smaller when washed or heated

adjective
/ˈʃrɪŋkəbl/

: retráctil

She chose a shrinkable material to make her swimwear more compact for packing.

Examples

The garment is made of shrinkable fabric that tightens when washed.
So you think lasers might not be shrinkable in that way?
This shrinkable wrap is perfect for protecting items during shipping, as it reduces in size when heated.

Synonyms

contractible

vsshrinkable

7.0

Can get smaller when it tightens or gets cold

is about becoming smaller after heat moisture or washing

contractive

vsshrinkable

7.3

Tending to make something smaller or bring parts closer together

is about becoming smaller from heat or washing rather than causing it

Antonyms

expandable

7 4.2

Something that can become larger or hold more

How Shrinkable

shrinkable

4.1

unshrinkable

1 6.0

Surface Forms

shrinkable positive

Morphology

shrinkable = shrink (transparent) = shrink + able

Meaning is directly derived from the verb 'shrink' with the productive suffix '-able' meaning 'capable of being'.

Etymology

The word shrinkable comes from the simple word shrink, which means 'become smaller', plus the ending -able, which means 'can be'. So, shrinkable describes something that 'can become smaller', like clothes that may get smaller after washing.