1
as in got
to become affected with (a disease or disorder)
before vaccines were invented, people lived in fear of contracting polio
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in shrunk
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 compressed
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 agreed
to come to an arrangement as to a course of action
the farmer contracted for delivery of the hay by the first of July
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in squeezed
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of contracted
Fox45 News, Baltimore Sun, 3 Jan. 2025
Officials said 48 of 95 people (89 were children) in two groups, contracted the disease during a two-week period in June that year.
—Dan Basso, Detroit Free Press, 2 Jan. 2025
If your pet appears sick or may have contracted bird flu, contact your veterinarian.
—Marcus D. Smith, Sacramento Bee, 2 Jan. 2025
Through this, the team was able to see that new memories were replayed and cemented in the brain during a fleeting moment in one of the non-REM sleep stage subsets, which corresponded with the animals' pupils appearing contracted.
—New Atlas, 2 Jan. 2025
However, there's no indication any of the people contracted the virus from another human, or spread it to anyone else.
—Will Stone, NPR, 30 Dec. 2024
The Biden administration has contracted with manufacturers to make almost five million doses of the vaccine.
—CBS News, 29 Dec. 2024
Firefly is one of several American companies contracted by NASA for lunar missions in the next few months as part of the government agency's Commercial Lunar Payload Services program, or CLPS.
—Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 29 Dec. 2024
This resulted in a situation in which anyone having contracted Spanish Flu either died or became immune, slowing the spread of the virus.
—Amanda Castro, Newsweek, 27 Dec. 2024
Adjective
The Public Service Enterprise Group, the company contracted to construct the project, applied Tuesday for a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity from the Maryland Public Service Commission.
—Fox45 News, Baltimore Sun, 3 Jan. 2025
Officials said 48 of 95 people (89 were children) in two groups, contracted the disease during a two-week period in June that year.
—Dan Basso, Detroit Free Press, 2 Jan. 2025
If your pet appears sick or may have contracted bird flu, contact your veterinarian.
—Marcus D. Smith, Sacramento Bee, 2 Jan. 2025
Through this, the team was able to see that new memories were replayed and cemented in the brain during a fleeting moment in one of the non-REM sleep stage subsets, which corresponded with the animals' pupils appearing contracted.
—New Atlas, 2 Jan. 2025
However, there's no indication any of the people contracted the virus from another human, or spread it to anyone else.
—Will Stone, NPR, 30 Dec. 2024
The Biden administration has contracted with manufacturers to make almost five million doses of the vaccine.
—CBS News, 29 Dec. 2024
Firefly is one of several American companies contracted by NASA for lunar missions in the next few months as part of the government agency's Commercial Lunar Payload Services program, or CLPS.
—Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 29 Dec. 2024
This resulted in a situation in which anyone having contracted Spanish Flu either died or became immune, slowing the spread of the virus.
—Amanda Castro, Newsweek, 27 Dec. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contracted
Verb
-
The economy has shrunk by eighty-five per cent during the civil war.—
Robin Wright,
The New Yorker,
19 Dec. 2024
-
The Latino share of the population in that area, a longtime enclave for Puerto Rican families, has shrunk faster than any other group in the last two decades.—
Winnie Hu,
New York Times,
19 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
Moreover, this innovative tag compressed 1440 daily measurements into a 12-byte message, which was ultimately sent via a long-range network.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
2 Jan. 2025
-
Chu previously explained that the musical's intricate narrative, rich character arcs and iconic musical numbers could be better explored over two films rather than compressed into a single movie.—
George Monastiriakos,
Newsweek,
31 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
The university agreed to those conditions plus others, including changes to rules on wearing face masks at protests and student discipline.—
Cayla Bamberger,
New York Daily News,
25 Mar. 2025
-
After the president issued an order suspending security clearances for Paul, Weiss lawyers and limiting them from getting government jobs, the law firm agreed to a series of commitments to persuade the president to cancel the order, according to the New York Times.—
Jay Weaver,
Miami Herald,
25 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Secure loose outdoor items and adjust plans as necessary so you're not caught outside.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacramento Bee,
25 Mar. 2025
-
An American Airlines flight caught fire at Denver International Airport on Thursday.—
Louis Casiano,
Fox News,
14 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Yet the portion of Americans who drink has shrunk in recent years.—
Ivana Saric,
Axios,
3 Jan. 2025
-
Your workout window shrunk to 30 minutes, then 20, then 10.—
Hilary Achauer,
New York Times,
2 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
These interviews have been edited and condensed.—
K.J. Yossman,
Variety,
24 Dec. 2024
-
This interview has been edited and condensed.—
Liam Hess,
Vogue,
23 Dec. 2024
Adjective
-
This revealed elongated filamentary structures stretching out for between 260,000 and 360,000 light-years.—
Robert Lea,
Space.com,
20 June 2025
-
The shoes feature an elongated, pointed toe that is pinched at the tip, a signature detail in the design house’s footwear.—
Karla Rodriguez,
Footwear News,
3 Sep. 2019
Verb
-
Yet his regime collapsed within days of the start of a coordinated rebel offensive.—
Hamidreza Azizi,
Foreign Affairs,
23 Dec. 2024
-
Other homes seemed to be abandoned—partially collapsed and overgrown with weeds.—
Chad Murphy,
The Enquirer,
23 Dec. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Contracted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contracted. Accessed 3 Jul. 2025.
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