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.
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Recent Examples of contracting
Susan Shelley, Daily News, 18 Feb. 2026
My vision for the HUB program is one of expansion and transparency—ensuring that state contracting is a tool for building middle-class wealth and supporting a diverse range of Texas entrepreneurs.
—Eleanor Dearman, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Feb. 2026
There’s a dusty cloud surrounding the central, contracting star, and that cloud is strongly suspected to be disk-like, with outflows and gaps in the dust in the two directions perpendicular to the disk.
—Big Think, 11 Feb. 2026
Founded in 2015 by Cecilia Casagrande, the firm specializes in historic home design and renovations and offers general contracting and design-build services.
—Elizabeth Stamp, Architectural Digest, 10 Feb. 2026
Years of disinvestment, inconsistent arts funding and bureaucratic contracting delays have hollowed out the robust infrastructure that allows these artists to educate fellow New Yorkers.
—Kimberly Olsen, New York Daily News, 10 Feb. 2026
Meister and Tracey Repa were both County Clerk’s Office employees who alleged they were fired by then-Clerk Robin O’Connor after meeting with the Sheriff’s Office to share allegations of improprieties in government contracting related to a courthouse expansion project.
—Joseph States, Chicago Tribune, 10 Feb. 2026
Players Era has employed multiple contracting structures for its two-year-old event.
—Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 9 Feb. 2026
As the commission discussed participation and contracting requirements, Martin said artists do not need city vendor registration or other compliance steps just to apply, noting those requirements come later if an artist is awarded a contract.
—Kansas City Star, 6 Feb. 2026
Ian King, CNBC, 18 Feb. 2026
The administration must promise to protect citizen privacy and security, and transparency in contracting with vendors.
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Feb. 2026
At this stage in its evolution, the central star, the one that’s contracting down on its way to becoming a white dwarf, is only slightly hotter than the Sun is.
—Big Think, 11 Feb. 2026
It was developed by Steve Henson, a plumber by trade who cooked for work crews while contracting in Alaska in the 1940s.
—Sam Stone, Bon Appetit Magazine, 11 Feb. 2026
The four crew members are quarantining at Florida's Kennedy Space Center to avoid contracting any illnesses that would jeopardize a launch.
—Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 10 Feb. 2026
On the Grandparents for Vaccines YouTube channel, one grandmother describes her four-year-old sister contracting measles before a vaccine was available, recalling how quickly this childhood illness resulted in permanent cognitive impairment, changing her entire family’s life forever.
—Donna A. Gaffney, Sun Sentinel, 10 Feb. 2026
The number of police agencies contracting with the company now exceeds 6,000, according to the company.
—John Aguilar, Denver Post, 10 Feb. 2026
According to Harris, some permeable materials allow for expanding and contracting with temperature changes.
—Alexandra Kelly, Martha Stewart, 9 Feb. 2026
Noun
Some City Council members have asked questions – about sustainability, social justice and local small business contracting opportunities.
—Susan Shelley, Daily News, 18 Feb. 2026
My vision for the HUB program is one of expansion and transparency—ensuring that state contracting is a tool for building middle-class wealth and supporting a diverse range of Texas entrepreneurs.
—Eleanor Dearman, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Feb. 2026
There’s a dusty cloud surrounding the central, contracting star, and that cloud is strongly suspected to be disk-like, with outflows and gaps in the dust in the two directions perpendicular to the disk.
—Big Think, 11 Feb. 2026
Founded in 2015 by Cecilia Casagrande, the firm specializes in historic home design and renovations and offers general contracting and design-build services.
—Elizabeth Stamp, Architectural Digest, 10 Feb. 2026
Years of disinvestment, inconsistent arts funding and bureaucratic contracting delays have hollowed out the robust infrastructure that allows these artists to educate fellow New Yorkers.
—Kimberly Olsen, New York Daily News, 10 Feb. 2026
Meister and Tracey Repa were both County Clerk’s Office employees who alleged they were fired by then-Clerk Robin O’Connor after meeting with the Sheriff’s Office to share allegations of improprieties in government contracting related to a courthouse expansion project.
—Joseph States, Chicago Tribune, 10 Feb. 2026
Players Era has employed multiple contracting structures for its two-year-old event.
—Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 9 Feb. 2026
As the commission discussed participation and contracting requirements, Martin said artists do not need city vendor registration or other compliance steps just to apply, noting those requirements come later if an artist is awarded a contract.
—Kansas City Star, 6 Feb. 2026
Verb
Profit margins have been contracting for asset managers for years as an increasing chunk of client money has switched from active to passive management.
—Ian King, CNBC, 18 Feb. 2026
The administration must promise to protect citizen privacy and security, and transparency in contracting with vendors.
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Feb. 2026
At this stage in its evolution, the central star, the one that’s contracting down on its way to becoming a white dwarf, is only slightly hotter than the Sun is.
—Big Think, 11 Feb. 2026
It was developed by Steve Henson, a plumber by trade who cooked for work crews while contracting in Alaska in the 1940s.
—Sam Stone, Bon Appetit Magazine, 11 Feb. 2026
The four crew members are quarantining at Florida's Kennedy Space Center to avoid contracting any illnesses that would jeopardize a launch.
—Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 10 Feb. 2026
On the Grandparents for Vaccines YouTube channel, one grandmother describes her four-year-old sister contracting measles before a vaccine was available, recalling how quickly this childhood illness resulted in permanent cognitive impairment, changing her entire family’s life forever.
—Donna A. Gaffney, Sun Sentinel, 10 Feb. 2026
The number of police agencies contracting with the company now exceeds 6,000, according to the company.
—John Aguilar, Denver Post, 10 Feb. 2026
According to Harris, some permeable materials allow for expanding and contracting with temperature changes.
—Alexandra Kelly, Martha Stewart, 9 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contracting
Noun
-
Hassan’s team instead squeezed a photon’s intensity and demonstrated real-time control, fluctuating between intensity and phase-squeezing by adjusting the silica’s position relative to the beams.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
6 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
For example, when Ilana is undressing, the camera is fixed on Dana being mindful to give her privacy even in their close proximity — an out of focus glimpse of Ilana’s bare backside comes only when getting a reaction of Emma taking in the weight of the moment.—
Senior Television,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Feb. 2026
-
Obviously, getting another gold medal for her, so happy for her.—
Michael Russo,
New York Times,
20 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Industrial push The race to perfect robots and automate is part of Beijing’s sweeping push to upgrade the country’s manufacturing capabilities and defend its position as the world’s factory floor in a new era of high tech, rising labor costs and a shrinking workforce.—
Simone McCarthy,
CNN Money,
18 Feb. 2026
-
When snowpack runs low, the effects ripple months later — shrinking reservoirs, stressed supplies, and tougher water decisions as temperatures rise.—
James Ward,
USA Today,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Goldman Sachs here plots the relative valuation of asset-light over asset-heavy companies, compressing toward zero.—
Michael Santoli,
CNBC,
16 Feb. 2026
-
Traveling at Mach 5 or faster, these systems can cross vast distances in minutes, drastically compressing response times and challenging existing missile defense architectures.—
Chris Young,
Interesting Engineering,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The move comes one month before the WGA is due to sit down with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers to begin bargaining a new contract for Hollywood TV and film writers.—
Gene Maddaus,
Variety,
17 Feb. 2026
-
The union had been bargaining with Kaiser since last May.—
City News Service,
Oc Register,
26 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Researchers have become successful in generating electricity from compression using a flexible nylon-film device.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
21 Feb. 2026
-
The high-compression fabric is sculpting without digging into skin, and the generous waistband keeps everything in place during particularly bendy yoga classes.—
Sophie Dodd,
Travel + Leisure,
20 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Nataliia Sukhar left her home in northeastern Kharkiv after the war broke out, catching a 15-hour train to Berlin with her then 5-year-old son, Gleb, on a journey followed by NBC News.—
Yuliya Talmazan,
NBC news,
24 Feb. 2026
-
Andrea gets up and hurries across the street, catching the doctor at the clinic entrance.—
Rodrigo Hasbún,
Literary Hub,
24 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The bill prohibits cities and counties from decreasing funding for public safety, which representatives from the local governments say isn’t possible.—
Alexandra Glorioso,
Miami Herald,
19 Feb. 2026
-
The goal is to minimize traffic spillover onto surrounding streets while providing more reliable travel times for people in cars and freight trucks and decreasing travel times for buses.—
Frederick Melo,
Twin Cities,
18 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Contracting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contracting. Accessed 25 Feb. 2026.
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