1
as in deal
a formal agreement to fulfill an obligation
accused her of breaking their contract by not completing the decorating job on budget
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in agreement
an arrangement about action to be taken
a contract outlining what needed to be done by each person
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in to get
to become affected with (a disease or disorder)
before vaccines were invented, people lived in fear of contracting polio
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to shrink
to become smaller in size or volume through the drawing together of particles of matter
metal contracts at low temperatures
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to compress
to reduce in size or volume by or as if by pressing parts or members together
contract the calf muscles in your legs
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in to bargain
to come to an arrangement as to a course of action
the farmer contracted for delivery of the hay by the first of July
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of contract
Los Angeles Times, 5 July 2025
Indiana now inherits that contract, which is team friendly, especially if Huff remains a rotation player.
—Tony East, Forbes.com, 5 July 2025
Michael Schroeder, IndyStar, 2 July 2025
Although economists almost universally downplay it, one straw in the wind may have come Wednesday, when payrolls processor ADP said private sector hiring in June unexpectedly contracted by 33,000 jobs, far lower than economists' estimate of 100,000.
—Jeff Cox, CNBC, 2 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for contract
Noun
Here’s more from our coverage of the ICE raids and arrests:
The week’s biggest stories
The city’s contract with the Greater Los Angeles Zoo Assn., which governs fundraising, special events and more, ended on Tuesday, leaving the zoo in a precarious place, with no firm plan for how to proceed.
—Los Angeles Times, 5 July 2025
Indiana now inherits that contract, which is team friendly, especially if Huff remains a rotation player.
—Tony East, Forbes.com, 5 July 2025
Verb
Henson has previously contracted service providers that were unreliable, which left the working mom in the lurch and worried about her son.
—Michael Schroeder, IndyStar, 2 July 2025
Although economists almost universally downplay it, one straw in the wind may have come Wednesday, when payrolls processor ADP said private sector hiring in June unexpectedly contracted by 33,000 jobs, far lower than economists' estimate of 100,000.
—Jeff Cox, CNBC, 2 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for contract
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contract
Noun
-
Look for Alphabet to deploy the Buy and Link defensive strategies — vacuuming up promising AI advertising startups and offering discounting and packaging deals to extant search customers that want to experiment with the Google AI advertising platform.—
Forrester,
Forbes.com,
2 July 2025
-
In the past couple of years Sony has made enormous investments in Queen and Pink Floyd catalogs — $1.1 billion and $400 million respectively — while Primary Wave made a $100 million deal for 50% of Notorious B.I.G.’s holdings.—
Jem Aswad,
Variety,
1 July 2025
Noun
-
These issues have driven a cycle of reciprocal tariffs and have made further comprehensive agreements difficult to achieve in recent years.—
Shane Croucher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 June 2025
-
Then, last year, Firefly announced an agreement with the Swedish Space Corporation to launch Alpha from Esrange Space Center as soon as 2026.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
27 June 2025
Verb
-
Maybe there's a path for Turner to get there eventually.—
Drew VonScio,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 July 2025
-
So much for my hope that Jess would get a promotion!—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
8 July 2025
Verb
-
Amazon and other tech companies have also been shrinking their workforces through rolling layoffs over the past several years.—
Annie Palmer,
CNBC,
1 July 2025
-
This time limit shrinks to 1 hour if the mercury rises to 90°F or higher, according to the USDA.—
Karla Walsh,
Better Homes & Gardens,
28 June 2025
Verb
-
In theory, this could help spotlight Alto Adige’s remarkable vineyard diversity - granite slopes, volcanic porphyry, glacial moraines - all compressed into just under 6,000 hectares of fragmented vineyards, layered across extreme altitudes.—
Paul Caputo,
Forbes.com,
3 July 2025
-
Burnout is a potential trade-off If your workload is heavy, compressing it into fewer days can backfire.—
Julia Sullivan,
USA Today,
27 June 2025
Verb
-
Right now, 450 of my co-workers and I in the Greater Boston area are bargaining for a new contract.—
Mike Ortiz,
Boston Herald,
28 June 2025
-
Whereas sellers could hold fast on their asking prices a few years ago, many are now willing to bargain.—
LEW SICHELMAN,
Miami Herald,
26 June 2025
Noun
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For example, there’s no guarantee that city-run grocery stores would be able to provide cheaper and more nutritious foods.—
John Cassidy,
New Yorker,
30 June 2025
-
Many worry that giving away such an important cultural site without full public input or guarantees for restoration and ongoing community use would be a mistake; city officials insist no final decisions have been made and promised more opportunities for public engagement.—
Miami Herald Archives,
Miami Herald,
30 June 2025
Noun
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As next week's deadline approaches, the Trump administration has touted new trade agreements with countries including China, the U.K. and Vietnam, while the status of other pacts remains under wraps.—
Alain Sherter,
CBS News,
3 July 2025
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The pact still requires approval by the FCC, headed by chairman Brendan Carr, who is an ally of Trump.—
Todd Spangler,
Variety,
2 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Contract.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contract. Accessed 11 Jul. 2025.
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