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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
In operation, the actuator compresses and holds the Ni-Ti tubes, causing the material to heat up.
—
IEEE Spectrum, 5 Feb. 2026
Their terahertz microscope compresses long terahertz waves into a microscopic spot.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 4 Feb. 2026
Video inflates thought; reading compresses it.
—Ryan Craig, Forbes.com, 23 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 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
IEEE Spectrum, 5 Feb. 2026
Their terahertz microscope compresses long terahertz waves into a microscopic spot.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 4 Feb. 2026
Video inflates thought; reading compresses it.
—Ryan Craig, Forbes.com, 23 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 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
-
The network does not air the BAFTAs live, but edits and condenses the three-hour show into a two-hour program to be broadcast later.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
22 Feb. 2026
-
Without good ventilation, the warm steam cools and condenses on walls, floors, and other surfaces.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Naturally, that shrinks the spending power.—
Colton Pouncy,
New York Times,
26 Feb. 2026
-
Once citizens begin to wonder whether criticism of public officials might trigger scrutiny, participation in civic life inevitably shrinks.—
Bob Shaw,
The Orlando Sentinel,
22 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Any tariff shift moves shipping volumes, squeezes supply chains, and eventually nudges consumer prices — but those ripples take time to reach shelves and paychecks.—
James Ward,
USA Today,
20 Feb. 2026
-
All this requires a lot of power, which puts a strain on the grid and squeezes local resources.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
7 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The psychic and physical toll of white supremacy, sustained cruelty, imprisonment, famine, poverty, depression, grief, or illness constricts one’s depth of imagination and movement.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
19 Feb. 2026
-
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
Cite this Entry
“Compresses.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/compresses. Accessed 1 Mar. 2026.
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