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
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
This high pressure compresses the air in the atmosphere and leads to very warm temperatures for this time of year.
—Troy Bridges, CBS News, 23 Dec. 2025
The facility compresses and expands CO2 daily in its closed system, turning a turbine that generates 200 megawatt-hours of electricity, or 20 MW over 10 hours.
—IEEE Spectrum, 21 Dec. 2025
The condition develops when something, like swelling of the tissues around the nerve, compresses the nerve that runs through the space between your wrist bones.
—Ruth Jessen Hickman, Health, 8 Dec. 2025
This interaction compresses the plasma into a dense sheet, which then slams into smaller gas clumps, resulting in a cosmic maelstrom that amplifies magnetic field strengths far beyond what a single shock could achieve — matching the unexpectedly strong values seen in observations.
—Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 21 Nov. 2025
Tight hip flexors pull your pelvis forward into an anterior tilt, forcing your back into an arch that compresses your lumbar spine and stresses low-back muscles.
—Dana Santas, CNN Money, 17 Nov. 2025
The Cosmic Pathway compresses 13 billion years of history into a single 360-foot-long ramp.
—Iona Brannon, Travel + Leisure, 8 Nov. 2025
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
This high pressure compresses the air in the atmosphere and leads to very warm temperatures for this time of year.
—Troy Bridges, CBS News, 23 Dec. 2025
The facility compresses and expands CO2 daily in its closed system, turning a turbine that generates 200 megawatt-hours of electricity, or 20 MW over 10 hours.
—IEEE Spectrum, 21 Dec. 2025
The condition develops when something, like swelling of the tissues around the nerve, compresses the nerve that runs through the space between your wrist bones.
—Ruth Jessen Hickman, Health, 8 Dec. 2025
This interaction compresses the plasma into a dense sheet, which then slams into smaller gas clumps, resulting in a cosmic maelstrom that amplifies magnetic field strengths far beyond what a single shock could achieve — matching the unexpectedly strong values seen in observations.
—Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 21 Nov. 2025
Tight hip flexors pull your pelvis forward into an anterior tilt, forcing your back into an arch that compresses your lumbar spine and stresses low-back muscles.
—Dana Santas, CNN Money, 17 Nov. 2025
The Cosmic Pathway compresses 13 billion years of history into a single 360-foot-long ramp.
—Iona Brannon, Travel + Leisure, 8 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for compresses
Verb
-
Both these methods consume much energy, either to cool surfaces so water vapor condenses or pry water molecules off sorbents through heat and pressure.—
Shi En Kim,
AZCentral.com,
26 Jan. 2026
-
Made less dense, the air then rises, cools and condenses into clouds, which produce heavy snow in narrow bands downwind.—
Adriana Pérez,
Chicago Tribune,
25 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
-
This example of the latter skillfully squeezes a comfortable home for two into a single shipping container.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
11 Jan. 2026
-
As the moon follows an elliptical path, Saturn’s gravity stretches and squeezes it.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
17 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
That’s because the physical exertion of shoveling increases heart rate and blood pressure, while at the same time the cold constricts blood vessels–a double whammy of stressors.—
Amy Feldman,
Forbes.com,
28 Jan. 2026
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Breathing in cold air constricts blood vessels, which elevates blood pressure and narrows coronary arteries, increasing the risk of cardiac strain.—
Manahil Ahmad,
The Providence Journal,
25 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Compresses.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/compresses. Accessed 5 Feb. 2026.
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