1,400 new words in our dictionary! — Parasocial, glow-up, promposal & more
1,400 new words in our dictionary! — More

compression

noun

kəm-ˈpre-shən How to pronounce compression (audio)
Definition of compressionnext
as in squeezing
the act or process of reducing the size or volume of something by or as if by pressing the compression of a long, complicated story into a two-hour movie is never easy

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of compression The Harris County Medical Examiner's office ruled her death a homicide caused by neck compression. — Adam Sabes, FOXNews.com, 23 Sep. 2026 The preset low-speed compression and rebound damping settings can be fine-tuned further with twelve clicks of compression adjustment and sixteen clicks of rebound adjustment. — Andrew P. Collins, The Drive, 23 Sep. 2026 For every dollar of margin AI creates through compression, ask where that dollar should be reinvested. — Sumeet Salwan, Forbes.com, 22 Sep. 2026 Bimota retunes the Balance Free Fork with a low spring rate, firmer compression damping, and softer rebound, while the rear damper can adjust up to 30 millimeters with an eccentric bolt. — Michael Van Runkle, Robb Report, 21 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for compression
Recent Examples of Synonyms for compression
  1. squeezing
  2. contraction
  3. condensation
  4. squeeze
  5. contracting
  6. constriction
Noun
  • So scientists use frequency-dependent squeezing to reduce quantum noise.
    — Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 22 May 2026
  • Maenpaa added that the physical act of squeezing creates a sensory anchor.
    — Samantha Agate, Charlotte Observer, 7 May 2026
Definition of squeezing
Noun
  • When a sensor detected movement in a rat’s front paw, another device was automatically activated to stimulate a hind-leg muscle, producing a contraction that mimicked part of the animal’s natural walking motion.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 25 Sep. 2026
  • The duo also translate the musical signals being emitted by the cosmic rift, realizing that a giant space baby is about to be born, and that the energy bursts bombarding both Enterprises are effectively contractions.
    — Richard Edwards, Space.com, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of contraction
Noun
  • The vapors that had risen from warm bodies in the pews would have carried syllables mixed with candle-soot, distilled as condensation on the chapel windows.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 22 Sep. 2026
  • This prevents cloudy tea, condensation, and unwanted flavors and odors.
    — Natalia Vela, Southern Living, 20 Sep. 2026
Definition of condensation
Noun
  • Adding a splash of gin and squeeze of lemon only enhanced the flavour.
    — Catherine Garcia, TheWeek, 29 Sep. 2026
  • The gentle squeeze around your legs provides other surprising health benefits on exhausting travel days.
    — Olivia Young, Travel + Leisure, 27 Sep. 2026
Definition of squeeze
Noun
  • Knife River – The stock rose almost 3% following a Wall Street Journal report that activist investor Starboard Value has acquired a substantial equity interest in the construction materials and contracting services company.
    — Michelle Fox,Darla Mercado, CFP®, CNBC, 24 Sep. 2026
  • Partly because the contracting system remains dysfunctional, the government has made little visible progress toward repairing the country’s crumbling highways.
    — Will Freeman, The Atlantic, 20 Sep. 2026
Definition of contracting
Noun
  • These snakes kill their prey by constriction and then swallow it whole.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Those whose feet are wont to slip out of their kicks while in motion will be happy to know that the Novablast 6’s tongue and overall construction locks the entire foot in without constriction.
    — Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of constriction

Browse Nearby Words

compressing
compression
comprise
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Compression.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/compression. Accessed 30 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on compression

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about compression

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of epistemic

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

7 Great Ways to Say 'Great'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Why do we 'bury the lede?'
See More

Popular

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

7 Great Ways to Say 'Great'

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
image of the words cracker fly and sale arranged in a triangle with the word fire in the middle
Triple Play Quiz Find the word that pairs with each of the three g...
See All