as in squeezed
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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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2
as in compressed
to become smaller in size or volume through the drawing together of particles of matter
metal contracts at low temperatures
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3
as in condensed
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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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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of contracted
Anniek Bao, CNBC, 31 Oct. 2025
While the Constitution demands that members of Congress never go without pay and federal law mandates that federal employees are eventually reimbursed with back pay, the same is not true for workers contracted by the federal government.
—Tiana Lowe Doescher, The Washington Examiner, 31 Oct. 2025
Official statistics show the population in Yimianpo contracted by about a third between 2010 and 2020 — from roughly 34,000 people to just over 23,000.
—John Ruwitch, NPR, 30 Oct. 2025
Nearly half of the people who contracted Herpes B from the monkeys in laboratories passed away, while the other half suffered permanent neurological damage, University of Florida researchers have found.
—Saleen Martin, USA Today, 28 Oct. 2025
The company also relinquished its cloud exclusivity with OpenAI, a concession on its part, but announced OpenAI has contracted to purchase an incremental $250 billion in Azure services.
—Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 28 Oct. 2025
Millbrae disbanded its own police department in 2012 and has since contracted with the sheriff’s office for public safety and police services.
—Ryan MacAsero, Mercury News, 28 Oct. 2025
Both Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll are contracted through 2026, both deals penned in 2024.
—Madeline Coleman, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025
Getting into conflict with strays can leave them with severe injuries or new illnesses, which can be contracted from scratches or bites.
—Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Oct. 2025
Verb
Costfoto | Nurphoto | Getty Images China’s manufacturing activity in October contracted more than expected, shrinking to the lowest level in six months, an official survey showed on Friday, as trade tensions with Washington reignited during the month.
—Anniek Bao, CNBC, 31 Oct. 2025
While the Constitution demands that members of Congress never go without pay and federal law mandates that federal employees are eventually reimbursed with back pay, the same is not true for workers contracted by the federal government.
—Tiana Lowe Doescher, The Washington Examiner, 31 Oct. 2025
Official statistics show the population in Yimianpo contracted by about a third between 2010 and 2020 — from roughly 34,000 people to just over 23,000.
—John Ruwitch, NPR, 30 Oct. 2025
Nearly half of the people who contracted Herpes B from the monkeys in laboratories passed away, while the other half suffered permanent neurological damage, University of Florida researchers have found.
—Saleen Martin, USA Today, 28 Oct. 2025
The company also relinquished its cloud exclusivity with OpenAI, a concession on its part, but announced OpenAI has contracted to purchase an incremental $250 billion in Azure services.
—Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 28 Oct. 2025
Millbrae disbanded its own police department in 2012 and has since contracted with the sheriff’s office for public safety and police services.
—Ryan MacAsero, Mercury News, 28 Oct. 2025
Both Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll are contracted through 2026, both deals penned in 2024.
—Madeline Coleman, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025
Getting into conflict with strays can leave them with severe injuries or new illnesses, which can be contracted from scratches or bites.
—Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contracted
Verb
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Alejandro Alba and his son Jayen got front row seats by arriving at 4am, a full seven hours before the parade started.—
Kevin Dotson,
CNN Money,
4 Nov. 2025
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Prosecutors said that during one visit to the assisted living facility, Fireside got access to the bank account belonging to her mother's boyfriend, then called the bank and guided him on resetting his online information.—
Adam Sabes,
FOXNews.com,
3 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Even when compressed up to 20 times, the accuracy is still about 60%.—
Beatrice Nolan,
Fortune,
23 Oct. 2025
-
The events that unfold are compressed, both in time and in space, and the pressure is enormous.—
Karl Ove Knausgaard,
New Yorker,
21 Oct. 2025
Verb
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But there's also concern that these programs, some funded by private donations and not used to such demand, will be financially squeezed.—
Lily Altavena,
Freep.com,
30 Oct. 2025
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George Matysik, executive director of Share Food Program, a Philadelphia food bank, told USA TODAY that food banks are already squeezed by federal funding cuts.—
Nicole Fallert,
USA Today,
28 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Dassey’s conviction was overturned in August 2016, and a judge agreed in a June 2017 panel that his confession had been illegally obtained and that he should be released or retried within 90 days unless the case was further appealed.—
Nicole Briese,
PEOPLE,
31 Oct. 2025
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In a very rare and likely precedent-setting agreement, the Museum of Fine Arts (MFA) Boston has agreed to return two works from 1857 by the Black potter David Drake, who made his ambitious jars while enslaved, to his present-day descendants.—
Jori Finkel,
CNN Money,
30 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Secure loose outdoor items and adjust plans as necessary so you're not caught outside.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
6 Nov. 2025
-
Police previously said a 2011 Infiniti G37 sedan crashed on the I-30 service road and caught fire.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
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The gap from first to the rest of the field shrunk ever-so-slightly last week.—
Scott Fowler,
Charlotte Observer,
2 Nov. 2025
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As some contract employers attempted to be as transparent as possible, NASA's communication efforts with its own workforce shrank over the course of the year.—
Josh Dinner,
Space.com,
31 Oct. 2025
Verb
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His remarks have been edited and condensed.—
The New Yorker,
New Yorker,
5 Nov. 2025
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This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.—
Alison Herman,
Variety,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Silver There was a time when owning silver was a rite of passage and, while its panache has decreased in recent year, there's still inherent value in this precious metal.—
Heather Bien,
Southern Living,
2 Nov. 2025
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Symptoms include pain, swelling, stiffness, and decreased joint mobility.—
Jakob Roze,
Health,
31 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Contracted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contracted. Accessed 7 Nov. 2025.
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