contracted 1 of 2

contracted

2 of 2

verb

past tense of contract
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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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 contracted
Verb
Warners soon contracted Jordan to write a sequel, The Vampire Lestat, based on Rice’s second installment in her The Vampire Chronicles series. — Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 23 Sep. 2026 In addition to SpaceX’s own eagerness to begin launching the Starlink V3 megaconstellation, NASA has also contracted the vehicle as a lunar lander for the Artemis program. — Josh Dinner, Space.com, 23 Sep. 2026 Menace and de Paz later met while both were contracted for a Fresco Marketing event, with Menace working as a DJ and SKILL wrestlers appearing for a meet-and-greet. — Kansas City Star, 22 Sep. 2026 Flyprecision, an aviation company contracted to the Forest Service, posted online Sunday that two members of its team had died. — Chris Boyette, CNN Money, 21 Sep. 2026 As global markets have contracted to some 75% of peak TV, according to Ampere Analysis, however, where are these opportunities? — John Hopewell, Variety, 19 Sep. 2026 Portage Mayor Austin Bonta estimated the storm resulted in 500,000 cubic yards of tree debris that needed to be carted off — so much that a private company was contracted to assist. — Doug Ross, Chicago Tribune, 18 Sep. 2026 In total, six employees contracted the disease, according to Fraport, the firm that operates Frankfurt Airport, The Express reported. — Louis Casiano, FOXNews.com, 18 Sep. 2026 During the month before her departure, Wong contracted with the New York Herald Tribune to write a series of articles about her journey through China. — Literary Hub, 17 Sep. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contracted
Adjective
  • Minimalist fiction is characterized by direct, highly compressed, densely allusive language.
    — Anna Mebel, JSTOR Daily, 17 Sep. 2026
  • Many new comedies these days suffer from a compressed run that offers little room to riff and experiment.
    — Alison Herman, Variety, 8 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • One thing that has changed since the beginning of the charter is the relationship between cabinmates Kat and Gen, who used to be close until Gen got a little too comfortable.
    — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 22 Sep. 2026
  • In 2016 Erickson’s Severance pilot made an annual list of best unproduced genre screenplays by BloodList—where other successes such as Bird Box (2018) and Don’t Worry Darling (2022) got their start.
    — Jordana Rosenfeld, Encyclopedia Britannica, 21 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • The team shrunk mentally as the second half went on, a common theme for this club in 2026.
    — Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 20 Sep. 2026
  • Giant-planet rings are already known to shift over months and years; Saturn’s D ring has measurably shrunk, and Neptune’s Adams arcs rearrange themselves.
    — Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 19 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • With Hamas squeezed, Netanyahu asked the Qataris to commit to official monthly payments to Gaza.
    — Ruth Margalit, New Yorker, 19 Sep. 2026
  • News organizations large and small are being squeezed like never before.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 19 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • He was ordered held without bail and agreed to be extradited to Providence within a week.
    — Louisa Moller, CBS News, 21 Sep. 2026
  • In the weeks that followed, Paramount agreed to delay the merger until June 2027 while the legal challenge played out.
    — Lillian Rizzo,Sarah Whitten, CNBC, 21 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • While cake is cooling, whisk together cold water, sweetened condensed milk, and pudding mix in a large bowl until smooth.
    — Erin Merhar, Southern Living, 13 July 2026
  • The gallery presents a condensed history of blue-and-white ceramics globally in dishes, starting in the Middle East with a 9th century Iraqi piece.
    — Stephanie Shih June 17, Los Angeles Times, 17 June 2026
Verb
  • Has a real Traitor ever been caught through mispeaking like this?
    — Alice Burton, Vulture, 25 Sep. 2026
  • The hot and dusty city streets were bathed in decorative green light to celebrate National Day, as hundreds of electronic billboards projected the sword and script of the Saudi flag, shown fluttering as if caught in a breeze.
    — Matthew Chance, CNN Money, 24 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Adult admission decreased by a few dollars, and children’s tickets are now $10 every day, all day.
    — Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 18 Sep. 2026
  • The likelihood that a domestic violence suspect will face prosecution has decreased in the past several years.
    — Connor Sheets, Los Angeles Times, 16 Sep. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Contracted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contracted. Accessed 27 Sep. 2026.

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