contingents

Definition of contingentsnext
plural of contingent
1
as in delegations
a body of persons chosen as representatives of a larger group the local Scout troop traditionally sends a large contingent to the jamboree

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2
as in events
something that might happen officials in charge of managing the national emergency tried to prepare for every contingent, no matter how improbable

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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 contingents Andrésol’s steps into the job as security forces continue to intensify their fight against armed gangs and the country prepares for the deployment of the first military contingents of the United Nations authorized Gang Suppression Force. Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 4 Mar. 2026 Expected to draw more than 30,000 attendees, this year’s parade will include 111 contingents and 4,500 people. Lisa Hix, Mercury News, 17 Feb. 2026 With athletes spread across four clusters, even the countries with larger contingents were walking in smaller numbers at each venue. Zack Pierce, New York Times, 7 Feb. 2026 Those comments have caused a lot of confusion and angst among European governments—many of whom have sent small military contingents to Greenland, not really as a show of force as much as a signal of disapproval. Connor Okeeffe, Oc Register, 21 Jan. 2026 Last week, several European nations sent small contingents of troops to Greenland for exercises. Alexandra Hutzler, ABC News, 21 Jan. 2026 The changes have been celebrated by some conservative lawmakers, anti-trans groups and some contingents of parents and athletes who believe trans women’s participation tips the scales of fairness. Elizabeth Wolfe, CNN Money, 18 Jan. 2026 The congressman might be surprised to learn that, a little more than a century ago, his own state had been home to one of the strongest contingents of socialists in America. Literary Hub, 5 Nov. 2025 Security was reinforced on the streets of the capital with extra contingents of the military and judicial police, sniffer dogs, and intelligence officers. Adriana Carranca, Time, 12 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contingents
Noun
  • The bombardment comes two days after delegations from Iran and the US met in Switzerland for a third round of negotiations on Tehran’s nuclear activities.
    Salma El Wardany, Fortune, 28 Feb. 2026
  • How far, statute by statute, has Congress already delegated its tariff-setting power — and what limits does the Constitution impose on such delegations?
    Clive Crook, Twin Cities, 25 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • Recent events served as another reminder.
    Jay Posner, Los Angeles Times, 7 Mar. 2026
  • Avoiding documentary-like methods that presume to grasp events in large visual gulps, Ouédraogo offers visual fragments (however ample) that conjure a spectrum of experience that goes beyond what’s onscreen.
    Richard Brody, New Yorker, 6 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • That only scratches the surface of Dolphins possibilities in free agency.
    David Furones, Sun Sentinel, 8 Mar. 2026
  • Unlike a solitaire ring which features a single prominent gem, eternity bands can be customized with multiple stones to maximize their symbolic meaning and stacking possibilities.
    Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 7 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • The collapse of diplomacy has forced the US and Israel to review military contingencies, including the possibility of using ground forces to retrieve nuclear material, said a European official familiar with the planning.
    Jonathan Tirone, Fortune, 8 Mar. 2026
  • Iran has spent decades constructing underground bunkers for a range of purposes and contingencies.
    Lucia I Suarez Sang, CBS News, 6 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • The average stay there is only nine days, according to ICE data, but some detainees have been kept for months amid court cases or logistical issues related to deportation.
    Morgan Lee, Los Angeles Times, 8 Mar. 2026
  • Now, eight months after he was released from jail, 34-year-old Jashawndre Upshaw is back behind bars, this time facing two violent felony cases.
    Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 7 Mar. 2026

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“Contingents.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contingents. Accessed 12 Mar. 2026.

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