as in squeezing
the act or process of reducing the size or volume of something by or as if by pressing
the contracting of the time frame for the primaries tends to favor candidates who are already well-known
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in getting
to become affected with (a disease or disorder)
before vaccines were invented, people lived in fear of contracting polio
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in shrinking
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 compressing
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 bargaining
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 contracting
Dan Perry, Newsweek, 4 Jan. 2025
Anyone can fall ill after contracting the virus, but the risk of severe illness is higher for people who are younger than five or older than 65.
—Dan Perry, Newsweek, 4 Jan. 2025
This might involve granting clearance to select staff, contracting with specialized cybersecurity firms, or enhancing internal information technology capabilities.
—Allison Carnegie, Foreign Affairs, 24 Dec. 2024
The disappearing chat feature is part of a Google Workspace suite that is accessible to about 26,000 employees and has been available in some form since the early 2010s, when the city began contracting with Google for email and other services, Magos said.
—Tony Barboza, Los Angeles Times, 23 Dec. 2024
Over the years, Cavuto has lived with multiple sclerosis and admitted to missing a few days of work due to contracting COVID-19 and having open heart surgery.
—Ashleigh Fields, The Hill, 20 Dec. 2024
Isometric holds involve contracting a muscle while keeping its length constant.
—Alyssa Ages, Outside Online, 20 Dec. 2024
This would put them at risk of contracting vaccine-preventable diseases.
—Catherine Tan, TIME, 20 Dec. 2024
Plyometrics is a type of exercise that involves quickly stretching and contracting muscles to create explosive movements with bodyweight resistance, increasing muscle power.
—Sherri Gordon, Health, 19 Dec. 2024
Verb
Any viral outbreak poses a public health risk, particularly for children and older people who may be more vulnerable to contracting serious illnesses when affected.
—Dan Perry, Newsweek, 4 Jan. 2025
Anyone can fall ill after contracting the virus, but the risk of severe illness is higher for people who are younger than five or older than 65.
—Dan Perry, Newsweek, 4 Jan. 2025
This might involve granting clearance to select staff, contracting with specialized cybersecurity firms, or enhancing internal information technology capabilities.
—Allison Carnegie, Foreign Affairs, 24 Dec. 2024
The disappearing chat feature is part of a Google Workspace suite that is accessible to about 26,000 employees and has been available in some form since the early 2010s, when the city began contracting with Google for email and other services, Magos said.
—Tony Barboza, Los Angeles Times, 23 Dec. 2024
Over the years, Cavuto has lived with multiple sclerosis and admitted to missing a few days of work due to contracting COVID-19 and having open heart surgery.
—Ashleigh Fields, The Hill, 20 Dec. 2024
Isometric holds involve contracting a muscle while keeping its length constant.
—Alyssa Ages, Outside Online, 20 Dec. 2024
This would put them at risk of contracting vaccine-preventable diseases.
—Catherine Tan, TIME, 20 Dec. 2024
Plyometrics is a type of exercise that involves quickly stretching and contracting muscles to create explosive movements with bodyweight resistance, increasing muscle power.
—Sherri Gordon, Health, 19 Dec. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contracting
Verb
-
The pool of available CPAs has been shrinking as Baby Boomers and some Gen Xers retire.—
Kelly Phillips Erb,
Forbes,
24 Dec. 2024
-
Mature markets like California, Colorado, and Oregon are shrinking in sales and tax revenue.—
Andrew DeAngelo,
Forbes,
24 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
For some bargaining units, like the California Association of State Attorneys and Administrative Law Judges, the change came less than a month after the union started bargaining a new contract with the state.—
William Melhado,
Sacramento Bee,
5 Mar. 2025
-
As Philadelphia systematically destroyed Kansas City on Sunday, Eagles fans were no doubt too … ebullient to pay much attention to the ads, while Chiefs supporters no doubt spent the commercial breaks bargaining with God or dousing themselves with Arthur Bryant‘s Barbecue Sauce for luck.—
Mary McNamara,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
Participants will learn how to perform high-quality compressions on an adult, child and infant, use an automatic external defibrillator (AED) and aid someone who is choking.—
Jake Richardson,
Mercury News,
12 May 2025
-
Fyne says the improvements dramatically reduce compression effects and boost detail resolution, giving a richer and more lifelike performance.—
Mark Sparrow,
Forbes.com,
12 May 2025
Verb
-
The agency said gushes of water flooded downstream villages, catching the children who were fishing or doing laundry on a nearby river by surprise and also destroying agricultural equipment and killing livestock.—
Compiled by Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports,
arkansasonline.com,
14 Mar. 2025
-
Pig has been catching feelings on wax for a minute.—
Alphonse Pierre,
Pitchfork,
14 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
The vest was later sold in a charity auction, with the winning bid reaching $17,300 and Day agreeing to match that amount with a donation of his own.—
Brooks Peck,
New York Times,
11 Apr. 2025
-
Part of Washington’s post-Allen plan came into shape Monday by agreeing to terms with defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw.—
Ben Standig,
New York Times,
11 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
The crossbody bag option, meanwhile, is less constricting and makes a stylish statement piece on top of any casual outfit.—
Clint Davis,
Better Homes & Gardens,
28 Dec. 2024
-
But his refusal to adhere to facts isn’t constricting.—
Stephanie Zacharek,
TIME,
25 Dec. 2024
Noun
-
Our crews have weathered a lot in recent years: a pandemic, two major strikes, a steep industry contraction and now the recent L.A. fires.—
Ed Lammi,
Mercury News,
7 May 2025
-
The Hollywood slowdown hits a new generation Recent college graduates aspiring toward careers in TV and film writing struggle to see a path forward as studios continue post-strike contraction.—
Corinne Purtill,
Los Angeles Times,
5 May 2025
Noun
-
With consumers growing more wary about spending, and tariffs creating new pressures on costs, consumer goods firms are facing a squeeze.—
Stephen Wunker,
Forbes.com,
8 May 2025
-
The Athletic examines the new squeeze on football’s calendar.—
Philip Buckingham,
New York Times,
8 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Contracting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contracting. Accessed 21 May. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share