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as in to compress
to become smaller in size or volume through the drawing together of particles of matter over time the once-fluffy material in the pillow had condensed into a lumpy wad

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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Synonym Chooser

How is the word condense different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of condense are compress, constrict, contract, deflate, and shrink. While all these words mean "to decrease in bulk or volume," condense implies a reducing of something homogeneous to greater compactness without significant loss of content.

condense the essay into a paragraph

Where would compress be a reasonable alternative to condense?

While in some cases nearly identical to condense, compress implies a pressing into a small compass and definite shape usually against resistance.

compressed cotton into bales

When would constrict be a good substitute for condense?

The meanings of constrict and condense largely overlap; however, constrict implies a tightening that reduces diameter.

the throat is constricted by a tight collar

In what contexts can contract take the place of condense?

The words contract and condense can be used in similar contexts, but contract applies to a drawing together of surfaces or particles or a reduction of area or length.

caused her muscles to contract

When is it sensible to use deflate instead of condense?

The words deflate and condense are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, deflate implies a contracting by reducing the internal pressure of contained air or gas.

deflate the balloon

When could shrink be used to replace condense?

Although the words shrink and condense have much in common, shrink implies a contracting or a loss of material and stresses a falling short of original dimensions.

the sweater will shrink when washed

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 condense The following interview has been edited and condensed for length and clarity. Anne Thompson, IndieWire, 17 June 2025 The interview has been edited and condensed for clarity. Adriane Quinlan, Curbed, 16 June 2025 It's also practiced by certain insects, notably Namib desert beetles, which survive on the water that condenses onto their wings. Jennifer Ouellette, ArsTechnica, 13 June 2025 Related Stories This interview has been lightly edited and condensed for clarity. Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 4 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for condense
Recent Examples of Synonyms for condense
Verb
  • Additionally, gross margins are projected to compress by 4 to 5 percentage points due to aggressive inventory clearance strategies.
    Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 24 June 2025
  • Although Winters captures Sophie’s despair, her character gets compressed into a plot point and her arc produces a jarring shift in mood.
    Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 20 June 2025
Verb
  • Despite remaining hugely cash-generative at the operating level, outgoings on player transfers, loan interest and the £50million investment at the Carrington training ground have squeezed their ability to spend quite so readily as in the past.
    Gregg Evans, New York Times, 17 June 2025
  • Team-building is not about squeezing sufficient value out of every single contract or assembling a roster of yes men.
    Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 16 June 2025
Verb
  • The City Council voted 7-0 June 10 to approve an ordinance to reduce the latest time in which peddlers and solicitors can knock on doors, ring doorbells or otherwise try to get admittance at residences from 9 p.m. Gayatri Agnew, Ward 1 City Council member, abstained from voting.
    Thomas Saccente, Arkansas Online, 20 June 2025
  • Inflation data of late has shown little pass-through so far as companies burn off inventory accumulated in the run-up to the tariff announcement, and amid concerns that consumer demand is slowing and reducing pricing power.
    Jeff Cox, CNBC, 20 June 2025
Verb
  • Because of rising wage inequality, more and more earnings have become concentrated above this tax limit and the tax base for Social Security has shrunk as a result, as my colleagues and I already discussed about a decade ago.
    Christian Weller, Forbes.com, 18 June 2025
  • Progressives say Connecticut has over-corrected for past fiscal mistakes, saving excessively and strangling core programs, even in times of high inflation or shrinking federal aid.
    Keith M. Phaneuf, Hartford Courant, 17 June 2025
Verb
  • Once extracted, researchers began to compare the genetic material discovered to previous samples.
    Nick Butler, FOXNews.com, 21 June 2025
  • In November 2022, President Joe Biden issued a license to allow the oil company Chevron to evade sanctions in order to extract oil in Venezuela.
    Gisela Salim-Peyer, The Atlantic, 20 June 2025
Verb
  • The roles are mostly concentrated in senior and management levels.
    Roxana Popescu, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 June 2025
  • Burnout manifests in the workplace as an inability to concentrate on tasks that previously felt manageable.
    Caroline Castrillon, Forbes.com, 23 June 2025
Verb
  • Kids who try to end-run this will have their streams removed and live chat disabled.
    Danny Bakst, Fortune, 26 June 2025
  • Florida Fish and Wildlife officials removed the alligators, allowing divers to recover a deceased male from the vehicle.
    Chris Anderson, USA Today, 26 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Condense.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/condense. Accessed 2 Jul. 2025.

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