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
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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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of contract
Ben Bolch, Los Angeles Times, 10 Jan. 2026
Dawkins told The Athletic that Wizards officials and Young’s agent have not had substantive discussions about a new contract or a contract extension.
—Josh Robbins, New York Times, 10 Jan. 2026
Los Angeles Times, 10 Jan. 2026
Sanchez had a cornea transplant in October, about 2 ½ years after contracting acanthamoeba keratitis.
—Kristen Rogers, CNN Money, 10 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for contract
Noun
New documents filed Friday in the Rose Bowl’s breach-of-contract case against UCLA that also accuses Kroenke Sports and Entertainment of meddling on behalf of SoFi Stadium revealed communication between UCLA and a top Kroenke executive dating to August 2024.
—Ben Bolch, Los Angeles Times, 10 Jan. 2026
Dawkins told The Athletic that Wizards officials and Young’s agent have not had substantive discussions about a new contract or a contract extension.
—Josh Robbins, New York Times, 10 Jan. 2026
Verb
The diagnosis came from San Mateo County, where an unvaccinated adult likely contracted the virus from recent international travel, according to Preston Merchant, a San Mateo County Health spokesperson.
—Los Angeles Times, 10 Jan. 2026
Sanchez had a cornea transplant in October, about 2 ½ years after contracting acanthamoeba keratitis.
—Kristen Rogers, CNN Money, 10 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for contract
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contract
Noun
-
Asking for a little light of your own shouldn’t be that big of a deal.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
15 Jan. 2026
-
The Eagles have spent a lot of money locking up their core to long-term deals over the years, so don't expect many flashy moves in free agency.—
Tom Ignudo,
CBS News,
15 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Last week Meta announced agreements with three nuclear power companies for a data center in Ohio.—
Jordan Novet,
CNBC,
13 Jan. 2026
-
That’s up from the current $249,000 and could grow to nearly $2 million over the life of the agreement, a person familiar with the negotiations told the AP earlier this month.—
Doug Feinberg,
Twin Cities,
13 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Want to get ahead at work with AI?—
Gili Malinsky,
CNBC,
13 Jan. 2026
-
After a turnover by the Kraken in the neutral zone back across the blue line, Carrick got the puck, skated into the left circle and beat Grubauer low on the blocker side.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
13 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
But the commissioners remain firm that too many solar projects could shrink the supply of local farmland and impact the county’s food production.—
Lily Carey,
Baltimore Sun,
13 Jan. 2026
-
The Xiaomi surged ahead, and Mat reacted in disbelief as the Ferrari shrank in his mirrors.—
Sujita Sinha,
Interesting Engineering,
13 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The ability of the sponge to compress means that over time the rug will weigh down the edges and prevent the rug from looking like it’s raised up onto a surface.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Jan. 2026
-
Las Vegas has compressed a short stretch of the Strip into a luxury gauntlet that’ll wreck your step count and your credit limit in the same afternoon.—
Paul Jebara,
Condé Nast Traveler,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
On December 31, the unions filed with the State of California, alleging unfair labor practices by Solano County and arguing that Solano is not bargaining in good faith.—
Ashley Sharp,
CBS News,
13 Jan. 2026
-
Any deadline would have to be collectively bargained, however, and the idea has already drawn opposition from the MLBPA.—
Mac Cerullo,
Boston Herald,
11 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
There was no guarantee a year ago that Schumer would be able to land enough candidates to even make a Senate majority mathematically possible.—
Burgess Everett,
semafor.com,
14 Jan. 2026
-
Circumstances do not make this a guarantee.—
Fluto Shinzawa,
New York Times,
14 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Lesotho, briefly hit with steep US tariffs last year, still faces uncertainty over the future of AGOA, the preferential US-Africa trade pact that underpins much of its export economy.—
Yinka Adegoke,
semafor.com,
9 Jan. 2026
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The pact also calls for digital integration of Polymarket modules during the span of the Globes into key brands across PMC, which is the parent company of the Globes and of Variety.—
Jordan Moreau,
Variety,
9 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Contract.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contract. Accessed 16 Jan. 2026.
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