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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of compresses
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
The back line compresses space, the midfield disrupts passing lanes and Ferree has commanded his box with composure beyond his years.
—Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Mar. 2026
Most have a double-zipper system, with one zipper to close the cube and a second zipper that compresses it to a fraction of its full size.
—Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 3 Mar. 2026
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
The back line compresses space, the midfield disrupts passing lanes and Ferree has commanded his box with composure beyond his years.
—Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Mar. 2026
Most have a double-zipper system, with one zipper to close the cube and a second zipper that compresses it to a fraction of its full size.
—Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 3 Mar. 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
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The Miniature Wife Elizabeth Banks and Matthew Macfadyen star in this dramedy about an egocentric scientist on the verge of a breakthrough who accidentally shrinks his wife, a Pulitzer-winning author who hasn’t written a lick in more than a decade.—
Rebecca Aizin,
PEOPLE,
10 Apr. 2026
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As the labor force shrinks, economic output and tax revenues may contract while demand for pensions, healthcare, and social security rises—a financial burden that will be borne by an increasingly smaller workforce.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
6 Apr. 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 25 Apr. 2026.
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