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
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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
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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
-
The four-year deal reportedly has a total value of $285 million and contractually ties the reigning league MVP to the Thunder through the 2030-31 season.—
Chantz Martin,
FOXNews.com,
1 July 2025
Noun
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There are still a number of pending cases in which courts haven’t reached any major rulings yet, such as Trump’s defunding of NPR and the government’s agreement with El Salvador to imprison migrants.—
Alison Durkee,
Forbes.com,
9 July 2025
-
The agreement comes during French President Macron symbolic trip to London in a first state visit for any European leader to the UK since the Brexit.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
9 July 2025
Verb
-
So much for my hope that Jess would get a promotion!—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
8 July 2025
-
Maybe there's a path for Turner to get there eventually.—
Drew VonScio,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 July 2025
Verb
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The good news is that the potential to compound one’s wealth grows by the day as the world shrinks by the day through commercial advances that reach greater and greater numbers of people.—
John Tamny,
Forbes.com,
12 July 2025
-
Trump’s shift in focus underscores how tragedy can complicate political calculations, even though Trump has made slashing the federal workforce and dramatically shrinking the size of government centerpieces of his administration’s opening months.—
Sean Murphy,
Los Angeles Times,
11 July 2025
Verb
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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
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According to the outlet, Diana was known to use her getaway during the last year of her life to bargain with paparazzi, who were eager to take photos of her in stylish swimsuits.—
Stephanie Nolasco , Ashley Papa,
FOXNews.com,
13 July 2025
-
Whether Drescher or someone else, the person leading the guild next year will have a herculean task ahead of them as SAG-AFTRA returns to the negotiating table with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, which collectively bargains on behalf of the major Hollywood studios.—
Katie Campione,
Deadline,
11 July 2025
Noun
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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
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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
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 16 Jul. 2025.
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