as in squeezed
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1
as in got
to become affected with (a disease or disorder)
before vaccines were invented, people lived in fear of contracting polio
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in compressed
to become smaller in size or volume through the drawing together of particles of matter
metal contracts at low temperatures
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3
as in condensed
to reduce in size or volume by or as if by pressing parts or members together
contract the calf muscles in your legs
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4
as in agreed
to come to an arrangement as to a course of action
the farmer contracted for delivery of the hay by the first of July
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of contracted
Charlotte Observer, 7 Apr. 2026
From March 24 to March 31, police said Rhode, a temporary custodian working with a third-party vendor contracted by Carnegie Mellon University, went into students' rooms and stole things like wallets, a watch and cash.
—Madeline Bartos, CBS News, 6 Apr. 2026
Most Kansans who contracted the virus were young children.
—Sofi Zeman
april 6, Kansas City Star, 6 Apr. 2026
As explained by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), plague, caused by the bacterium, Yersinia pestis, is an illness that affects all mammals, including humans, that is contracted through infected fleas.
—Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 6 Apr. 2026
Manchester City had Livramento high on their list in summer 2024, while other leading Premier League clubs are interested in the right-back who, like Guimaraes, is contracted until 2028.
—George Caulkin, New York Times, 6 Apr. 2026
What this all boils down to is that upgrading the old silos would have been more of a pain than building new ones, so Northrop Grumman and Bechtel were contracted to come up with a prototype replacement, for which the Air Force broke ground on March 27, 2026 in Promontory, Utah.
—David Szondy
april 05, New Atlas, 5 Apr. 2026
Another local tribe, the Viejas Band of Kumeyaay Indians, is currently contracted by Shea Homes to monitor the site and handle potential disturbances to cultural resources.
—Lucas Robinson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Apr. 2026
The need for the list took on new urgency in 2012, when more than 60 people died from fungal meningitis infections contracted from a drug produced at a compounding facility and dispensed to hundreds of people.
—Anjeanette Damon, ProPublica, 3 Apr. 2026
Verb
Tigani has centralized food preparation in an off-site kitchen and contracted with a bakery to more efficiently meet demand at the three stores.
—Charlotte Observer, 7 Apr. 2026
From March 24 to March 31, police said Rhode, a temporary custodian working with a third-party vendor contracted by Carnegie Mellon University, went into students' rooms and stole things like wallets, a watch and cash.
—Madeline Bartos, CBS News, 6 Apr. 2026
Most Kansans who contracted the virus were young children.
—Sofi Zeman
april 6, Kansas City Star, 6 Apr. 2026
As explained by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), plague, caused by the bacterium, Yersinia pestis, is an illness that affects all mammals, including humans, that is contracted through infected fleas.
—Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 6 Apr. 2026
Manchester City had Livramento high on their list in summer 2024, while other leading Premier League clubs are interested in the right-back who, like Guimaraes, is contracted until 2028.
—George Caulkin, New York Times, 6 Apr. 2026
What this all boils down to is that upgrading the old silos would have been more of a pain than building new ones, so Northrop Grumman and Bechtel were contracted to come up with a prototype replacement, for which the Air Force broke ground on March 27, 2026 in Promontory, Utah.
—David Szondy
april 05, New Atlas, 5 Apr. 2026
Another local tribe, the Viejas Band of Kumeyaay Indians, is currently contracted by Shea Homes to monitor the site and handle potential disturbances to cultural resources.
—Lucas Robinson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Apr. 2026
The need for the list took on new urgency in 2012, when more than 60 people died from fungal meningitis infections contracted from a drug produced at a compounding facility and dispensed to hundreds of people.
—Anjeanette Damon, ProPublica, 3 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contracted
Verb
-
The right-handed Bird got ahead of pinch-hitter Graham Pauley with two quick strikes.—
Peter Sblendorio,
New York Daily News,
6 Apr. 2026
-
It's got nearly 1,800 connections and many thousands of residences to serve.—
Charlie Lapastora,
CBS News,
6 Apr. 2026
Verb
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These boneless organisms fossilized as biofilm — they were rapidly buried and compressed between layers of rock, leaving behind two-dimensional impressions of their organic tissues.—
Mindy Weisberger,
CNN Money,
4 Apr. 2026
-
On the flip side, if premiums are compressed, your net proceeds may be lower than expected, even if spot prices are high.—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Some parents feel squeezed when gifted assets significantly appreciate, according to Robert Westley of Northern Trust.—
Hayley Cuccinello,
CNBC,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Higher gas prices can also hurt sales inside the gas stations, if customers who are being squeezed at the pump spend less on other things.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
James McCann, a senior economist at Edward Jones, agreed.—
Rachel Barber,
USA Today,
3 Apr. 2026
-
It was previously agreed the Earth at its core was liquid, and now she's discovered that that's actually not true.—
Carol Sutton Lewis,
Scientific American,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Secure loose outdoor items and adjust plans as necessary so you're not caught outside.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Heavily hit, the Dannebroge caught fire and then exploded.—
Lianne Kolirin,
CNN Money,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The Royal Navy has shrunk dramatically since the Cold War ended, with combat-ready ships declining from 166 in 1975 to 66 in 2025, following decades of military spending cuts.—
Pan Pylas,
Los Angeles Times,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Those commitments come at a time when domestic drug manufacturing had shrunk significantly.—
Annika Kim Constantino,Angelica Peebles,
CNBC,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
This interview has been edited and condensed.—
Arushi Jacob,
Variety,
2 Apr. 2026
-
This story has been lightly edited and condensed for readability.—
Glamour,
Glamour,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
That was in 2021, when league revenues decreased as a result of the pandemic.—
Dan Sheldon,
New York Times,
6 Apr. 2026
-
Shooting percentages rapidly decreased after the intermission, and each team scored just 11 points in the third quarter.—
Haley Sawyer,
Oc Register,
4 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Contracted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contracted. Accessed 8 Apr. 2026.
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