1
as in guarantees
a formal agreement to fulfill an obligation
accused her of breaking their contract by not completing the decorating job on budget
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in agreements
an arrangement about action to be taken
a contract outlining what needed to be done by each person
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in gets
to become affected with (a disease or disorder)
before vaccines were invented, people lived in fear of contracting polio
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in shrinks
to become smaller in size or volume through the drawing together of particles of matter
metal contracts at low temperatures
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in compresses
to reduce in size or volume by or as if by pressing parts or members together
contract the calf muscles in your legs
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in covenants
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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of contracts
Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 31 Jan. 2026
Other unions also pushing for improved contracts The 30,000 members of Local 99 also are working under terms of an expired contract, since June 30, 2024.
—Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 31 Jan. 2026
Before free agency hits in March and the NFL Draft rolls around in April, the organization has plenty of in-house decisions to make with expiring contracts and coaching moves.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 31 Jan. 2026
College coaches have media requirements worked into their contracts.
—Noah White, Miami Herald, 31 Jan. 2026
Notably, Western Digital disclosed that all of its production capacity for 2026 has already been sold out, with some customer contracts extending through 2028.
—Sasirekha Subramanian, Forbes.com, 30 Jan. 2026
There’s no way to develop this group over the next four years without contracts ballooning unsustainably; and that same group lacks any of the star power necessary to lift the Bulls out of their current mediocrity.
—Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 30 Jan. 2026
Catcher Victor Caratini and reliever Taylor Rogers each passed team physicals on Friday and were officially signed to free-agent contracts by the Twins.
—John Shipley, Twin Cities, 24 Jan. 2026
From your office, clients ask you to verify the authenticity of photos, videos, e-mails, contracts, screenshots, audio recordings, text message threads, social media posts and biometric records.
—Deni Ellis Béchard, Scientific American, 24 Jan. 2026
Washington Post, 7 Jan. 2026
An adult who contracts hepatitis B has a 95% chance of clearing the virus.
—Jake Scott, The Conversation, 6 Jan. 2026
Luszczyszyn’s model gives both Byfield’s and Beniers’ contracts better percentage chances of bringing positive value to their teams.
—Peter Baugh, New York Times, 5 Jan. 2026
Earlier this year, the company extended its betting menu to sports outcomes, with people able to buy binary yes/no event contracts on whether a team will win a game or a player will win an award.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 1 Jan. 2026
Star contracts its police services out to the Ada County Sheriff’s Office, while firefighting and emergency medical services in the city are operated and funded through a separate taxing entity, the Star Fire Protection District.
—Rose Evans, Idaho Statesman, 29 Dec. 2025
An adult who contracts hepatitis B has a 95% chance of clearing the virus.
—Jake Scott, CNN Money, 19 Dec. 2025
CoreCivic, one of the main companies that contracts with ICE to operate immigration detention centers, is headquartered in Nashville.
—Reuters, NBC news, 6 Nov. 2025
Anyone who contracts the illness should seek medical attention and get treated with antibiotics sooner than later, according to the health department.
—Sofi Zeman, Kansas City Star, 4 Nov. 2025
Noun
The court found the contracts were unconstitutional.
—Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 31 Jan. 2026
Other unions also pushing for improved contracts The 30,000 members of Local 99 also are working under terms of an expired contract, since June 30, 2024.
—Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 31 Jan. 2026
Before free agency hits in March and the NFL Draft rolls around in April, the organization has plenty of in-house decisions to make with expiring contracts and coaching moves.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 31 Jan. 2026
College coaches have media requirements worked into their contracts.
—Noah White, Miami Herald, 31 Jan. 2026
Notably, Western Digital disclosed that all of its production capacity for 2026 has already been sold out, with some customer contracts extending through 2028.
—Sasirekha Subramanian, Forbes.com, 30 Jan. 2026
There’s no way to develop this group over the next four years without contracts ballooning unsustainably; and that same group lacks any of the star power necessary to lift the Bulls out of their current mediocrity.
—Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 30 Jan. 2026
Catcher Victor Caratini and reliever Taylor Rogers each passed team physicals on Friday and were officially signed to free-agent contracts by the Twins.
—John Shipley, Twin Cities, 24 Jan. 2026
From your office, clients ask you to verify the authenticity of photos, videos, e-mails, contracts, screenshots, audio recordings, text message threads, social media posts and biometric records.
—Deni Ellis Béchard, Scientific American, 24 Jan. 2026
Verb
The downstream consequences of the advisory committee’s decision cannot be ignored; adding public healthcare coverage for anyone who contracts such diseases will be necessary, since more cases of these diseases are certain to occur.
—Washington Post, 7 Jan. 2026
An adult who contracts hepatitis B has a 95% chance of clearing the virus.
—Jake Scott, The Conversation, 6 Jan. 2026
Luszczyszyn’s model gives both Byfield’s and Beniers’ contracts better percentage chances of bringing positive value to their teams.
—Peter Baugh, New York Times, 5 Jan. 2026
Earlier this year, the company extended its betting menu to sports outcomes, with people able to buy binary yes/no event contracts on whether a team will win a game or a player will win an award.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 1 Jan. 2026
Star contracts its police services out to the Ada County Sheriff’s Office, while firefighting and emergency medical services in the city are operated and funded through a separate taxing entity, the Star Fire Protection District.
—Rose Evans, Idaho Statesman, 29 Dec. 2025
An adult who contracts hepatitis B has a 95% chance of clearing the virus.
—Jake Scott, CNN Money, 19 Dec. 2025
CoreCivic, one of the main companies that contracts with ICE to operate immigration detention centers, is headquartered in Nashville.
—Reuters, NBC news, 6 Nov. 2025
Anyone who contracts the illness should seek medical attention and get treated with antibiotics sooner than later, according to the health department.
—Sofi Zeman, Kansas City Star, 4 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contracts
Noun
-
Either could be a candidate for a short extension or perhaps a deal where some guarantees are installed in exchange for cap flexibility.—
Luca Evans,
Denver Post,
31 Jan. 2026
-
Energy flows are no longer determined solely by price and proximity but by alliance structures and security guarantees.—
Scott Montgomery,
Forbes.com,
30 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Look for agreements that explicitly connect energy systems to digital infrastructure—because that is where the real compounding happens.—
Güney Yıldız,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Ribera has also been outspoken in her views on the current US administration, re-posting a statement by former US President Barack Obama criticizing federal agents’ actions in Minneapolis, for example, and lambasting the US for pulling out of climate agreements.—
Suzanne Lynch,
Bloomberg,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Indiana Pacers Another surprisingly expensive team, the reigning Eastern Conference champions would likely go into the tax if restricted free agent Bennedict Mathurin gets an appropriate salary over the summer.—
Danny Leroux,
New York Times,
28 Jan. 2026
-
Here's where this case gets even messier.—
Megan De Mar,
CBS News,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Each failure reinforces migration, which in turn shrinks the tax base, accelerating decline.—
Israel Melendez Ayala,
Time,
30 Jan. 2026
-
Due to rosters being stacked with elite talent, the margin for error shrinks instantly.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Video inflates thought; reading compresses it.—
Ryan Craig,
Forbes.com,
23 Jan. 2026
-
This vapor layer unexpectedly acts as a cushion, ensuring the shockwave compresses the water symmetrically.—
Aman Tripathi,
Interesting Engineering,
11 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Facilitating business deals Large business delegations often accompany national leaders when making state visits.—
Evelyn Cheng,
CNBC,
30 Jan. 2026
-
Keep scrolling for more can’t-miss outlet deals available at Wayfair.—
Ali Faccenda,
PEOPLE,
29 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Ricardo Sheffield, a prominent Morena senator who was previously a member of the center-right National Action Party, has called for a review of oil pacts with Cuba.—
Kate Linthicum,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Jan. 2026
-
During the same period, New Delhi finalized pacts with Britain, New Zealand and Oman.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The backstory Faena New York occupies the East Tower of One High Line—a sculptural work by Bjarke Ingels Group whose twisting geometric design catches sunlight like a prism.—
Jessica Chapel,
Condé Nast Traveler,
30 Jan. 2026
-
Sophie’s wonderment at the ornate environment catches Benedict’s attention.—
Olivia Singh,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Contracts.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contracts. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.
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