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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Lucy Maguire, Vogue, 10 Mar. 2026
The ability to land and relaunch Starship is critical for SpaceX, which is contracted to design a version of the Ship upper stage as the lunar lander for NASA's Artemis program.
—Josh Dinner, Space.com, 10 Mar. 2026
The Star found 31 lawsuits filed in Wyandotte County District Court alleging that 25 patients at The University of Kansas Hospital contracted the infection after undergoing open-heart surgery involving a device that hadn’t been properly disinfected.
—Judy L. Thomas, Kansas City Star, 10 Mar. 2026
Tuberculosis, the bacteria often associated with the deaths of Victorian-era monarchs, was recently contracted by more than 200 high school students in San Francisco.
—Chase Hunter, Mercury News, 9 Mar. 2026
By this time, the scope of her life had contracted.
—Anika Burgess, New Yorker, 7 Mar. 2026
The guest list is under wraps—and hard to guess because Armani doesn’t have specifically contracted brand ambassadors.
—Elise Taylor, Vanity Fair, 6 Mar. 2026
State health officials said one of the children was a toddler who contracted measles while traveling to an area in South Carolina with an ongoing measles outbreak.
—Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 6 Mar. 2026
Jimmy Tate of Tate Capital, the shopping center’s original developer, leases spaces in the plaza to local businesses and contracted with H&M for the hotel build.
—Megan Vaz, Sun Sentinel, 2 Mar. 2026
Verb
In this context — and as key retailers like Ssense falter — Rusadze’s business has contracted in recent years.
—Lucy Maguire, Vogue, 10 Mar. 2026
The ability to land and relaunch Starship is critical for SpaceX, which is contracted to design a version of the Ship upper stage as the lunar lander for NASA's Artemis program.
—Josh Dinner, Space.com, 10 Mar. 2026
The Star found 31 lawsuits filed in Wyandotte County District Court alleging that 25 patients at The University of Kansas Hospital contracted the infection after undergoing open-heart surgery involving a device that hadn’t been properly disinfected.
—Judy L. Thomas, Kansas City Star, 10 Mar. 2026
Tuberculosis, the bacteria often associated with the deaths of Victorian-era monarchs, was recently contracted by more than 200 high school students in San Francisco.
—Chase Hunter, Mercury News, 9 Mar. 2026
By this time, the scope of her life had contracted.
—Anika Burgess, New Yorker, 7 Mar. 2026
The guest list is under wraps—and hard to guess because Armani doesn’t have specifically contracted brand ambassadors.
—Elise Taylor, Vanity Fair, 6 Mar. 2026
State health officials said one of the children was a toddler who contracted measles while traveling to an area in South Carolina with an ongoing measles outbreak.
—Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 6 Mar. 2026
Jimmy Tate of Tate Capital, the shopping center’s original developer, leases spaces in the plaza to local businesses and contracted with H&M for the hotel build.
—Megan Vaz, Sun Sentinel, 2 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contracted
Verb
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Two innings later, Team USA got its first two runs in the same manner but offered a contrast in styles.—
Kevin Acee,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
16 Mar. 2026
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Hensley and Anderson obviously had plenty of fans in the building and got the loudest ovations.—
Corey Masisak,
Denver Post,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
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It also gets compressed, which squeezes the air and puts even more pressure on it, which heats it up.—
Zoe Mintz,
CBS News,
15 Mar. 2026
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Years of work compressed into one headline.—
Brendan Keegan,
Rolling Stone,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Other creative directors packed their show spaces, recalling a bygone frenzied atmosphere wheren attendees craned their necks and squeezed into standing room spaces not to get that perfect iPhone shot but because the ideas were so exhilerating.—
Rachel Tashjian,
CNN Money,
12 Mar. 2026
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The middle class is being squeezed, in more ways than one.—
Phaedra Trethan,
USA Today,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
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There is only one China, both sides agreed, and the only question was which government was legitimate.—
Timothy Nerozzi,
The Washington Examiner,
13 Mar. 2026
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Despite the prevalence of readily available information on pricing and market fluctuations as well as details that make some watches stand out, everyone agreed the excitement around collecting is still alive and well.—
Paige Reddinger,
Robb Report,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Ahead of the festival, which kicks off Thursday, the De Los team has assembled a list of acts that have caught our attention.—
Andrea Flores,
Los Angeles Times,
13 Mar. 2026
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Now, Taiwan is caught in geopolitical limbo.—
Timothy Nerozzi,
The Washington Examiner,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
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And that majority shrank further after Greene retired in January, leaving her seat vacant for several months as Congress is at a standstill amid a partial government shutdown.—
Rebecca Morin,
USA Today,
11 Mar. 2026
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Its headquarters campus shifted toward research and development, and employment there shrank even as the company’s global workforce increased.—
Angela Palermo,
Idaho Statesman,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The following interview has been edited and condensed for clarity and length.—
Mike Ryan,
IndieWire,
12 Mar. 2026
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This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.—
Vanity Fair,
Vanity Fair,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The number of Democratic-majority Congressional Districts in North Texas decreased from three to two.—
Jack Fink,
CBS News,
15 Mar. 2026
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Over all grade levels, enrollment has decreased by about 875 students in the last 12 years while staff levels rose by 185 members.—
Michelle Mullins,
Chicago Tribune,
14 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Contracted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contracted. Accessed 17 Mar. 2026.
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