1
as in condenses
to reduce in size or volume by or as if by pressing parts or members together
a science textbook that compresses a lot of information about human reproduction into a few short chapters
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in shrinks
to become smaller in size or volume through the drawing together of particles of matter
the substance can compress under pressure
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Recent Examples of compresses
The rings arise because the metal softens as the can compresses, then stiffens, then compresses and stiffens again, repeating the pattern until the compression is complete—akin to something called homoclinic snaking.
—
ArsTechnica, 2 May 2026
Ackerly explains what happens when AI compresses all of that.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 25 Apr. 2026
The memory foam feels plush yet supportive, and the pillow compresses down to fit easily in a carry-on when not in use.
—Samantha Leal, Travel + Leisure, 18 Apr. 2026
Moisture can influence the leather and core, changing how the ball compresses at impact.
—Brandi D. Addison, USA Today, 16 Apr. 2026
The video compresses nearly an hour of totality into a short sequence, showing the precise alignment of the sun, moon and spacecraft, as the Artemis 2 crew flew around the far side of the moon on April 6.
—Samantha Mathewson, Space.com, 10 Apr. 2026
This one compresses a century of change into a decade.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 10 Apr. 2026
Here, the Pacific Flyway compresses into a living mosaic of wings, water and soil.
—Josh Jackson, Los Angeles Times, 7 Apr. 2026
This is another place where the popular imagination often compresses the problem.
—Micah McCartney, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Apr. 2026
ArsTechnica, 2 May 2026
Ackerly explains what happens when AI compresses all of that.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 25 Apr. 2026
The memory foam feels plush yet supportive, and the pillow compresses down to fit easily in a carry-on when not in use.
—Samantha Leal, Travel + Leisure, 18 Apr. 2026
Moisture can influence the leather and core, changing how the ball compresses at impact.
—Brandi D. Addison, USA Today, 16 Apr. 2026
The video compresses nearly an hour of totality into a short sequence, showing the precise alignment of the sun, moon and spacecraft, as the Artemis 2 crew flew around the far side of the moon on April 6.
—Samantha Mathewson, Space.com, 10 Apr. 2026
This one compresses a century of change into a decade.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 10 Apr. 2026
Here, the Pacific Flyway compresses into a living mosaic of wings, water and soil.
—Josh Jackson, Los Angeles Times, 7 Apr. 2026
This is another place where the popular imagination often compresses the problem.
—Micah McCartney, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for compresses
Verb
-
Cold water from depths of up to about 3,280 feet then condenses the vapor back into liquid, allowing the cycle to repeat and generate electricity continuously.—
Sujita Sinha,
Interesting Engineering,
23 Apr. 2026
-
Refrigerator coils are full of hot refrigerant that condenses into liquid, releasing heat into your kitchen.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
21 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The active material, a liquid crystal elastomer (LCE), is a key polymer that physically shrinks when heated.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
1 May 2026
-
The hippocampus, the seat of memory, shrinks.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
1 May 2026
Verb
-
For the United States, the blockade squeezes Iran’s already weakened economy by denying it long-term cash flow.—
Michelle L. Price,
Fortune,
19 Apr. 2026
-
The waves, which were first used in Boston in 2011, help spread things out so that runners don’t have to walk after the start, when Main Street in Hopkinton squeezes to just 39 feet wide.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
19 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The coldness of the water constricts arteries, requiring the heart to work harder than normal to function.—
Saleen Martin,
USA Today,
14 Apr. 2026
-
This means giving up the exalted and exaggerated idea of the West that boosts a masculinist self-image but severely constricts thought and feeling.—
Christine Smallwood,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Compresses.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/compresses. Accessed 5 May. 2026.
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