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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Benjamin Weinthal, FOXNews.com, 30 Mar. 2026
Another magma reservoir in the crust, one thought to feed Kolumbo, contracted as its reserves drained away.
—Quanta Magazine, 27 Mar. 2026
Dallas handles transition Previously, Dallas contracted with Fair Park First to manage the park, which in turn hired Oak View Group to run day-to-day operations.
—Aria Jones, Dallas Morning News, 27 Mar. 2026
In another case, a 10-year-old girl contracted horrible lesions on 10 percent of her body — mostly on her legs — after contact with giant hogweed.
—Natalie Krebs, Outdoor Life, 26 Mar. 2026
Separate natural gas explosions in January 2024 that destroyed two homes in Jackson, Mississippi resulted from underground pipes pulling loose from their fittings as spongy clay soil expanded and contracted with rainfall, according to a federal report released Thursday.
—ABC News, 26 Mar. 2026
Chris Welch, Vantage’s director for pre-construction in North America, said the project would have dedicated crews contracted for the cleanup.
—Claudia Levens, jsonline.com, 26 Mar. 2026
The agency, which operates 10 prisons around the state, has contracted with out-of-state prisons to address overpopulation issues for several years.
—Nicole Blanchard, Idaho Statesman, 26 Mar. 2026
In all, even without the county’s official sponsorship, Broward hotels have contracted for 13,295 room nights for delegations and teams, not even including the fans.
—Rafael Olmeda, Sun Sentinel, 26 Mar. 2026
Verb
The Iranians were apparently very happy with the missiles the North Koreans provided them, and, following the earlier precedent of the Scud C factory, contracted with Pyongyang to build a No Dong facility in Iran.
—Benjamin Weinthal, FOXNews.com, 30 Mar. 2026
Another magma reservoir in the crust, one thought to feed Kolumbo, contracted as its reserves drained away.
—Quanta Magazine, 27 Mar. 2026
Dallas handles transition Previously, Dallas contracted with Fair Park First to manage the park, which in turn hired Oak View Group to run day-to-day operations.
—Aria Jones, Dallas Morning News, 27 Mar. 2026
In another case, a 10-year-old girl contracted horrible lesions on 10 percent of her body — mostly on her legs — after contact with giant hogweed.
—Natalie Krebs, Outdoor Life, 26 Mar. 2026
Separate natural gas explosions in January 2024 that destroyed two homes in Jackson, Mississippi resulted from underground pipes pulling loose from their fittings as spongy clay soil expanded and contracted with rainfall, according to a federal report released Thursday.
—ABC News, 26 Mar. 2026
Chris Welch, Vantage’s director for pre-construction in North America, said the project would have dedicated crews contracted for the cleanup.
—Claudia Levens, jsonline.com, 26 Mar. 2026
The agency, which operates 10 prisons around the state, has contracted with out-of-state prisons to address overpopulation issues for several years.
—Nicole Blanchard, Idaho Statesman, 26 Mar. 2026
In all, even without the county’s official sponsorship, Broward hotels have contracted for 13,295 room nights for delegations and teams, not even including the fans.
—Rafael Olmeda, Sun Sentinel, 26 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contracted
Verb
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Things became chippy in the second quarter when Denver backup center Zeke Nnaji, pressed into action due to the injuries, got into an altercation with De'Anthony Melton and Gary Payton II after Murray and LJ Cryer exchanged shoves.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Arvidsson helped win the faceoff and got the puck back to McAvoy.—
Steve Conroy,
Boston Herald,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
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While the valuation has compressed meaningfully, the company’s weakening growth profile and persistent underperformance suggest the market may still be adjusting to a lower-quality earnings outlook.—
Tony Zhang,
CNBC,
25 Mar. 2026
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During ejection, a moon’s orbit can become highly elongated, generating strong tidal forces as it is repeatedly stretched and compressed by its host planet.—
Jijo Malayil,
Interesting Engineering,
22 Mar. 2026
Verb
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And almost all traffic goes through two main shipping lanes that are even more squeezed.—
Annette Choi,
CNN Money,
27 Mar. 2026
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More than 22,000 oranges are squeezed, and hundreds of gallons of drinks are poured, all for opening day.—
Caroline Foreback,
CBS News,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Fourteen months after Crow-Armstrong and the Cubs started contract discussions, the sides agreed to a six-year, $115 million extension through the 2032 season.—
Meghan Montemurro,
Chicago Tribune,
28 Mar. 2026
-
Idaho lawmakers narrowly agreed to send a bill aimed at lowering prices for first-time homebuyers to the governor’s desk on Thursday, continuing a late comeback for housing reform this legislative session.—
Mark Dee
March 28,
Idaho Statesman,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
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About 2% of authors were caught, and their papers rejected, Nature reported.—
Tom Chivers,
semafor.com,
26 Mar. 2026
-
In the past, ranching in the West has caught flak for its heavy footprint on the environment and overreliance on government subsidies.—
Shi En Kim,
AZCentral.com,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Concessions in the 2010s froze wages and weakened health and retirement benefits, and the executive branch work force shrunk by 10%.—
Mark Pazniokas,
Hartford Courant,
26 Mar. 2026
-
The research and manufacturing infrastructure to close those gaps quickly doesn’t currently exist at the scale this moment requires, and the workforce to deploy them has shrunk.—
Ashish K. Jha,
STAT,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
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This interview has been edited and condensed.—
K.J. Yossman,
Variety,
26 Mar. 2026
-
Her remarks have been edited and condensed.—
The New Yorker,
New Yorker,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
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In the past forty years, men’s wages have decreased as a percentage of over-all family income, while broader wealth inequalities and job insecurity have grown.—
Charles Bethea,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
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In two of six Minneapolis areas, overall crime decreased 43% and 56% respectively, while, in all other areas, overall crime rose.—
Eric Adler
March 29,
Kansas City Star,
29 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Contracted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contracted. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.
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