CONTRACTING Synonyms: 131 Similar and Opposite Words

contracting 1 of 2

noun

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

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contracting

2 of 2

verb

present participle of contract

as in getting

to become affected with (a disease or disorder) before vaccines were invented, people lived in fear of contracting polio

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as in shrinking

to become smaller in size or volume through the drawing together of particles of matter metal contracts at low temperatures

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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

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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

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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 contracting

Noun

On the development and production side, Lumicraft’s AI casting tool Castlink pairs actor discovery with contracting and settlement, while Reproduction’s Pre-Flow handles screenplay analysis and production data sharing. — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 26 Aug. 2026 The contract value was for $183,400, according to public contracting records. — Sarah N. Lynch, CBS News, 25 Aug. 2026 State lawmakers passed new rules as part of the 2026 Senate Appropriations Act that ban state or local agencies from using race-conscious or gender-conscious goals in contracting. — Rebecca Noel, Charlotte Observer, 24 Aug. 2026 The new project-funding system was described by a contracting officer during an April meeting with NPS officials. — Michael Scherer, The Atlantic, 20 Aug. 2026 As much as ten percent (and perhaps even more) of their staff work on law-related, contracting, and cybersecurity teams. — Doug Beck, Foreign Affairs, 18 Aug. 2026 The July 2026 jobs report showed the economy contracting by 23,000 jobs against a consensus forecast of positive 83,000. — Susan Lamotte, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026 The person Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway chose to illustrate that Kansas City’s contracting system is biased has a history of ties to Kansas City Mafia figures. — Jack Harvel august 17, Kansas City Star, 17 Aug. 2026 DiGiannantonio was part of a group of six men, most of them young, married fathers working in industries such as general contracting and liquor sales, who opened Hooters on a lark. — Hannah Goldfield, New Yorker, 17 Aug. 2026

Verb

Two workers at Germany’s Frankfurt Airport have died after contracting malaria believed to have been spread by a mosquito brought into the country via an aircraft. — Sophie Tanno, CNN Money, 27 Aug. 2026 Additionally, pregnant women who are at a heightened risk of contracting HIV should be tested at the beginning of their pregnancy and again during the third trimester, says the CDC. — Tj Rhodes, Sioux Falls Argus Leader, 26 Aug. 2026 Take these precautions during water activities Swimmers, particularly those in southern states and warm coastal waters, should expect a minimal risk of contracting a pathogen in warm freshwater lakes, rivers, brackish waters and hot springs. — Janet Loehrke, USA Today, 25 Aug. 2026 This medication — different from Paxlovid, an antiviral medication used to lessen COVID-19 symptoms — prevents people from contracting the illness after exposure. — Charlotte Observer, 24 Aug. 2026 Seshamani added that the overall risk of contracting measles remains low if the individual is vaccinated. — Bryan Lynn, CBS News, 24 Aug. 2026 At least two people in Michigan with existing medical conditions even tragically died after contracting the parasite. — Maggie Harrison Dupré, Futurism, 20 Aug. 2026 Disney will also provide operational oversight though the new park will be operated by Miral which is contracting Disney's Imagineers – architects named after their imaginative use of engineering – to design it. — Caroline Reid, Forbes.com, 16 Aug. 2026 Several speakers urged the city to stop contracting with Flock at a City Council meeting Monday. — Tom Olsen, Twin Cities, 14 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for contracting

Noun

So scientists use frequency-dependent squeezing to reduce quantum noise.

— Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 22 May 2026
Maenpaa added that the physical act of squeezing creates a sensory anchor.

— Samantha Agate, Charlotte Observer, 7 May 2026

Definition of squeezing

Verb

Striking out on her own was a difficult transition, but embracing her solitude gave her the space to learn more about herself and make her own personal decisions, such as getting her cat or making meals of her choosing.

— Amen Galinato, CNN Money, 23 Aug. 2026
The storm dumped more than a foot of rain over parts of the state, with the highest elevations getting more than 40 inches.

— Nadine El-Bawab, ABC News, 23 Aug. 2026

Definition of getting

Verb

If internal fluid pressure drops during aggressive extraction, the surrounding earth squeezes the cavern inward, permanently shrinking total storage capacity and crushing steel well casings.

— Siddharth Misra, Fortune, 25 Aug. 2026
That Toll Brothers vote encapsulated south Folsom’s shrinking oak woodland.

— Corey Schmidt, Sacbee.com, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of shrinking

Verb

To gauge correctly, people can place a measuring tape around the abdomen, between the bottom of the ribs and the top of the hip bones, keeping the tape level and snug but not compressing the skin.

— Faye Chiu, CNN Money, 26 Aug. 2026
These robust profits are compressing forward multiples, making stocks appear cheaper despite rising prices.

— Andrew Graham, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of compressing

Noun

The trailer has shots of medical staff treating screaming and severely injured patients, performing chest compressions and Robby consoling a grieving family member who received some tragic news.

— Jordan Moreau, Variety, 21 Aug. 2026
Compression shorts In recent times, compression shorts have become increasingly popular as workout shorts.

— BestReviews, Mercury News, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of compression

Verb

The Braves have Drake Baldwin and Sean Murphy atop their catching depth chart, but a brutal injury setback involving veteran backstop Sandy Leon has now forced the organization to seek out another experienced option.

— Peter Chawaga, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026
But there’s also a similar pathology and high that comes from going deep undercover for the animal cops and eventually catching their prize, which might be Anson Wong, Michael Van Nostrand or Tommy Crutchfield.

— Katie Campione, Deadline, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of catching

Verb

Parton didn’t stop with Dollywood By the early 1990s, Parton created The Dollywood Foundation with the goal of decreasing the high school drop out rate in Sevier County, which was hovering around 30%.

— Kimberlee Kruesi, Fortune, 27 Aug. 2026
Over several days, gradually increase the proportion of the new food while decreasing the old food.

— Matthew Kayser, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2026