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contract

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verb

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as in to bargain
to come to an arrangement as to a course of action the farmer contracted for delivery of the hay by the first of July

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word contract different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of contract are compress, condense, constrict, deflate, and shrink. While all these words mean "to decrease in bulk or volume," contract applies to a drawing together of surfaces or particles or a reduction of area or length.

caused her muscles to contract

Where would compress be a reasonable alternative to contract?

In some situations, the words compress and contract are roughly equivalent. However, compress implies a pressing into a small compass and definite shape usually against resistance.

compressed cotton into bales

When would condense be a good substitute for contract?

Although the words condense and contract have much in common, condense implies a reducing of something homogeneous to greater compactness without significant loss of content.

condense the essay into a paragraph

When is it sensible to use constrict instead of contract?

The words constrict and contract are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, constrict implies a tightening that reduces diameter.

the throat is constricted by a tight collar

In what contexts can deflate take the place of contract?

While in some cases nearly identical to contract, deflate implies a contracting by reducing the internal pressure of contained air or gas.

deflate the balloon

When might shrink be a better fit than contract?

The synonyms shrink and contract are sometimes interchangeable, but shrink implies a contracting or a loss of material and stresses a falling short of original dimensions.

the sweater will shrink when washed

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 contract
Noun
The team might not be willing to take a chance on the pitcher’s ability to fulfill his contract. Dan Schlossberg, Forbes.com, 19 May 2025 Three of Sunday’s at-bats, including both strikeouts, came against Max Fried, whom the Yankees signed to an eight-year, $218 million contract in their first major splash after Soto’s departure. Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 19 May 2025
Verb
Why did Peter Krause leave 9-1-1? During season 8, episode 15, Bobby died from a rare, deadly virus called Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) after contracting it during a lab fire response. Samantha Stutsman, People.com, 16 May 2025 Experts believe that broken heart syndrome occurs when bursts of stress hormones like adrenaline keep the heart from contracting properly. Emily Kay Votruba, EverydayHealth.com, 15 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for contract
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contract
Noun
  • Recent remake deals have been secured with major players including Nashe Kino in Russia, Athena in India, United King Films in Israel and Vertigo in Hungary.
    Jamie Lang, Variety, 17 May 2025
  • The deal is very similar to the aforementioned Galaxy S25 Ultra deal that popped up last week.
    Janhoi McGregor, Forbes.com, 17 May 2025
Noun
  • In law enforcement, the legally binding agreements, approved by all parties, typically stem from Justice Department investigations into widespread patterns of misconduct.
    Marc Ramirez, USA Today, 23 May 2025
  • The agreements, called consent decrees, are used as a monitoring system at police departments where the Justice Department has found a pattern of misconduct.
    Jade Walker, CNN Money, 22 May 2025
Verb
  • Sign up for Entertainment Weekly's free daily newsletter to get breaking TV news, exclusive first looks, recaps, reviews, interviews with your favorite stars, and more.
    Randall Colburn, EW.com, 21 May 2025
  • Shares of the company got a little boost from the interest signaled by the poison pill and gained 3.2 percent to $23.51 in premarket trading on Tuesday.
    Evan Clark, Footwear News, 20 May 2025
Verb
  • The fish that shrank, the study found, had a much higher chance of surviving.
    Benji Jones, Vox, 23 May 2025
  • The layoffs of tens of thousands of staff across the federal government are a critical piece of a push by the Republican president and billionaire adviser Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency to shrink the federal government and drastically cut spending.
    Daniel Wiessner, USA Today, 23 May 2025
Verb
  • The interstellar medium in our Milky Way galaxy is magnetic, can be compressed, and is turbulent.
    Victoria Corless, Space.com, 19 May 2025
  • So much fresh spinach done for you, cooked down and compressed for you.
    Bon Appétit, Bon Appetit Magazine, 15 May 2025
Verb
  • That would allow monopsony on the buyer side to bargain with monopoly on the seller side.
    John C. Goodman, Forbes.com, 24 May 2025
  • The changes were enforced unilaterally with Starbucks failing to bargain with union members over the new policy, the group said.
    Tanasia Kenney, Sacbee.com, 20 May 2025
Noun
  • Those restrictions upend the conventional understanding of the 14th Amendment’s citizenship guarantee for people born on U.S. soil, which the Supreme Court and most legal scholars have long interpreted to include only a few narrow exceptions, like the children of diplomats.
    Zach Schonfeld, The Hill, 15 May 2025
  • Today the rule of state is the guarantee for all sects.
    Amira El-Fekki‎, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 May 2025
Noun
  • The pact, revealed Saturday at the Cannes Film Market, will see the launch of the dedicated Something Weird Channel (SWC) on Cultpix’s platform beginning June 1.
    Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 17 May 2025
  • At the afterparty, however, all four boys fulfill their pact.
    James Mercadante, EW.com, 17 May 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Contract.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contract. Accessed 29 May. 2025.

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