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 moment everyone sees it, the return compresses and disappears.
—
Alexander Foster, Forbes.com, 18 May 2026
But the window that Pawlikowski chooses for Fatherland is defiantly compact, a stretch of time that the director compresses even more to place the suicide of Erika’s brother Klaus, which happened in the south of France two months before, within the space of the trip.
—Alison Willmore, Vulture, 15 May 2026
Doing so compresses the light reflected from the plasma, thereby increasing its intensity.
—Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 14 May 2026
Packing down a landing pad sounds easier to him than building berms because the regolith readily compresses, at least in simulations.
—Dan Vergano, Scientific American, 11 May 2026
The surface compresses under the weight of large athletes and coaches standing for hours at a time.
—Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 May 2026
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
Alexander Foster, Forbes.com, 18 May 2026
But the window that Pawlikowski chooses for Fatherland is defiantly compact, a stretch of time that the director compresses even more to place the suicide of Erika’s brother Klaus, which happened in the south of France two months before, within the space of the trip.
—Alison Willmore, Vulture, 15 May 2026
Doing so compresses the light reflected from the plasma, thereby increasing its intensity.
—Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 14 May 2026
Packing down a landing pad sounds easier to him than building berms because the regolith readily compresses, at least in simulations.
—Dan Vergano, Scientific American, 11 May 2026
The surface compresses under the weight of large athletes and coaches standing for hours at a time.
—Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 May 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for compresses
Verb
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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
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Foundation and soil issues Charlotte sits in the Piedmont region, where red clay soil expands when wet and shrinks when dry.—
Ryan Brennan
May 15,
Charlotte Observer,
15 May 2026
-
Some CEOs see the increase in gas prices as an opportunity to steal more market share as the overall pie of restaurant spending shrinks.—
Amelia Lucas,
CNBC,
11 May 2026
Verb
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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
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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
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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 19 May. 2026.
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