contracted 1 of 2

adjective

as in squeezed

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contracted

2 of 2

verb

past tense of contract
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

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
Katalyst Space was contracted by NASA to mount a rescue of the telescope in July. — News Editor, CBS News, 4 Nov. 2026 As a reward for their performance, this same Texas firm (that was single-source contracted to implement getting cheap drugs) got another huge state contract for a warehouse. — Jay Reddick, The Orlando Sentinel, 3 Nov. 2026 Untold numbers of workers and residents had contracted cancer and respiratory conditions. — Michael Gecan, New York Daily News, 3 Nov. 2026 Officials said the person contracted bird flu, also known as avian influenza, following exposure to infected cattle. — ABC News, 3 Nov. 2026 The firm subsequently contracted with Raki McGregor’s company, Qonnect, under an agreement calling for $30,000 in monthly payments. — Charlotte Observer, 2 Nov. 2026 France’s economy unexpectedly contracted in the third quarter, adding to a pile of worries over the European power’s fortunes in the run-up to divisive presidential elections. — Prashant Rao, semafor.com, 30 Oct. 2026 The signals can also become less reliable when muscles remain contracted, when sweat interferes with electrodes, or when sensors pick up activity from neighboring muscles. — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 29 Oct. 2026 Beyond the Human Landing System, there are myriad robotic elements of the Moon Base that need to get to the surface, and NASA has contracted with a host of US space companies to develop smaller cargo landers. — Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 29 Oct. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contracted
  1. compressed
  2. got
  3. shrank
  4. squeezed
  5. agreed
  6. condensed
  7. caught
  8. decreased
Adjective
  • Each generation of tape (currently Gen 10) has seen meaningful increases in both compressed and uncompressed storage limits.
    — Nick Indge, ArsTechnica, 30 Oct. 2026
  • Those choices, made early, are what move a business from a compressed margin toward a software-grade one.
    — Mala Ramakrishnan, Forbes.com, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of compressed
Verb
  • When this 2008 institution from Elmhurst, Queens opened an outpost within Manhattan’s Chelsea Market, even more New Yorkers got access to its exceptional, home-style Thai cooking.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 Nov. 2026
  • The Hurricanes never got closer than six points the rest of the night.
    — Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 3 Nov. 2026
Definition of got
Verb
  • Whether DeSantis’ redistricting effort delivers for Republicans Florida’s new congressional maps shrunk the number of Democratic-leaning seats from eight to four.
    — Claire Heddles, Miami Herald, 2 Nov. 2026
  • The actuators push a piston with pressurized oil, much like the arm of an excavator, only shrunk down.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 1 Nov. 2026
Definition of shrank
Verb
  • Apple has already implemented a series of price hikes on some of its hardware offerings due to rising memory costs, but margins can still be squeezed if the full increase wasn't passed through.
    — Kevin Stankiewicz, CNBC, 1 Nov. 2026
  • But in Israel at least, creatives have been stymied in recent years by a plethora of measures that have left them squeezed between censorship at home and international boycotts.
    — Max Goldbart, Deadline, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of squeezed
Verb
  • Iowa just agreed to pay $4 million in a racial discrimination lawsuit.
    — Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 Nov. 2026
  • Fans agreed and shared their displeasure at the lack of a quarterback sneak.
    — Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of agreed
Adjective
  • The play is essentially a condensed version of Jaku’s memoir, but there’s one big difference.
    — Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 2 Oct. 2026
  • The blitz with Jones was an example of Joseph taking advantage of a defensive back’s versatility and athleticism to set the edge in the more condensed real estate of the red zone.
    — Nick Kosmider, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of condensed
Verb
  • Phillips caught a bad break when her approach to the green hit a tree branch on its upward flight and dropped 20 yards short of the green.
    — Steve Galluzzo, Los Angeles Times, 6 Nov. 2026
  • China was also caught in the regional sell-off, with the tech-heavy STAR Market and the ChiNext Artificial Intelligence Index both tumbling more than 4%.
    — Lee Ying Shan,Jenny Lee, CNBC, 6 Nov. 2026
Definition of caught
Verb
  • In Iowa, for example, MercyOne Clinton Medical Center ended labor and delivery services earlier this year, citing decreased Medicaid funding as part of the reason.
    — Rachel Cohen Booth, Vox, 30 Oct. 2026
  • Their systolic and diastolic blood pressure (which measures pressure when the heart relaxes) both decreased.
    — Maggie Ryan, Flow Space, 29 Oct. 2026
Definition of decreased

Browse Nearby Words

contract
contracted
contracted (for)
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Cite this Entry

“Contracted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contracted. Accessed 9 Nov. 2026.

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