1
as in hard
having a consistency that does not easily yield to pressure
a mattress with a compact foam core
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in packed
having little space between items or parts
compact soil that should provide good support for the plant
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in concise
marked by the use of few words to convey much information or meaning
compact prose without a single wasted word
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in treaty
a formal agreement between two or more nations or peoples
a five-nation compact to control drug traffic
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in agreement
an arrangement about action to be taken
the two made a compact never to artificially prolong the other's life in the event of incapacitating illness or injury
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in to consolidate
to bring (something) to a central point or under a single control
the media giant decided to compact all of its far-flung operations onto a single site
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to compress
to reduce in size or volume by or as if by pressing parts or members together
compact the snow into a tight ball for throwing
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of compact
Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 11 June 2026
Authorities say the man had a compact AK-style pistol wrapped in a T-shirt in a baby stroller.
—Joseph Buczek, CBS News, 10 June 2026
Kevin Lozano, Harpers Magazine, 2 June 2026
That the white-collar compact — Richardson’s ADP data makes visible in real time how the white-collar compact of weekends off, autonomy, and a career that lived in your head rather than your hands increasingly looks like an accident of timing.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 29 May 2026
Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 23 May 2026
Soil can become compacted over the winter, especially in high-traffic areas.
—Angie Hicks, Boston Herald, 15 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for compact
Adjective
Eldridge has the kind of swing — compact and limitlessly powerful — that changes a franchise’s temperature and perhaps its trajectory.
—Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 11 June 2026
Authorities say the man had a compact AK-style pistol wrapped in a T-shirt in a baby stroller.
—Joseph Buczek, CBS News, 10 June 2026
Noun
But that compact is fragile and untested, and aspiring for a more equitable city will require us to expel the bad blood of the Eighties.
—Kevin Lozano, Harpers Magazine, 2 June 2026
That the white-collar compact — Richardson’s ADP data makes visible in real time how the white-collar compact of weekends off, autonomy, and a career that lived in your head rather than your hands increasingly looks like an accident of timing.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 29 May 2026
Verb
If the soil becomes compacted over time, simply work it to a shallower depth of 4 to 8 inches before applying your annual application of compost or mulch.
—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 23 May 2026
Soil can become compacted over the winter, especially in high-traffic areas.
—Angie Hicks, Boston Herald, 15 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for compact
Recent Examples of Synonyms for compact
Adjective
-
All these years, the stigma stuck no matter how hard the family fought to change the narrative.—
Yumi Asada,
CNN Money,
13 June 2026
-
In lieu of hard liquor, the winner of each round got a blast from a Champagne squirt gun into their mouth.—
Danielle Dorsey,
Los Angeles Times,
12 June 2026
Adjective
-
Fans inside the packed stadium in Inglewood, California, roared as the USMNT seized an early advantage.—
Chantz Martin,
FOXNews.com,
13 June 2026
-
From what archaeologists gathered, the Roman villa garden featured a flowerbed enclosed in a courtyard with rows of packed ceramic pots, as per Ancient Origins.—
Maria Mocerino,
Interesting Engineering,
13 June 2026
Adjective
-
Draft a concise proposal and set measurable checkpoints for a decision‑maker, because clear milestones help busy people say yes without extra clarification.—
Tarot.com,
Sun Sentinel,
14 June 2026
-
Get concise answers to your questions.—
Dan Diamond,
Washington Post,
13 June 2026
Noun
-
The difference in treaties can lead to differential tax treatment for the country’s taxpayers.—
Nathan Goldman,
Forbes.com,
12 June 2026
-
Tribal Chairman Steve Sitting Bear said Standing Rock will consider its options to uphold its treaty rights, ensure safe water, and hold the government and corporations accountable.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
11 June 2026
Noun
-
As part of the distribution agreement, the slate will also roll out in mainland China via Xiaohongshu, the digital lifestyle platform whose daily active user base tops 200 million.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
16 June 2026
-
One of the project’s most significant adversaries is the city of Sacramento — while the area is not under their governance, city officials argue the development would violate a decades-old habitat conservation agreement with the county.—
Jennah Pendleton,
Sacbee.com,
16 June 2026
Verb
-
While the ruling Chavismo movement is now consolidating its unexpected ties with Washington, Rodríguez appears to aspire to lead this new phase herself, with calls to leave behind the harsh years of her predecessor.—
Alfredo Meza,
CNN Money,
14 June 2026
-
Sandra Pellegrini, senior analyst for Latin America and the Caribbean Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Projects, or ACLD, said recent clashes among gangs do not necessarily signal a collapse of Viv Ansanm, which took shape in September 2023 and consolidated its power in February 2024.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
14 June 2026
Verb
-
This could be a CFO who needs the close to actually shorten, a supply chain leader who needs the planning cycle to actually compress, or a claims executive who needs the loss ratio to actually move.—
Irfan Khan,
Forbes.com,
12 June 2026
-
The accelerated consumption cycle has also compressed the window in which a title can generate revenue, with mid-tier content suffering most.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
12 June 2026
Adjective
-
Morris earned his chance in the rotation through solid Triple-A numbers and due to three starters being out of the picture for now.—
Sean Campbell,
Sacbee.com,
10 June 2026
-
Pitch shows that some substances can appear solid in daily life while still flowing over long periods.—
Atharva Gosavi,
Interesting Engineering,
9 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Compact.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/compact. Accessed 16 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
