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
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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
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of contracting
Matt Egan, CNN Money, 7 Oct. 2025
At the meeting, school board member Danny Espino proposed contracting with the Florida Division of Administrative Hearings, based in Tallahassee, which uses administrative law judges to hear challenges to traffic citations virtually.
—Miami Herald, 3 Oct. 2025
Years, and Bay Area careers in contracting and the restaurant industry later, the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta became his summer home.
—Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 26 Sep. 2025
Carriers on the trade lane are working around the contracting utilization by blanking sailings and adjusting schedules.
—Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 22 Sep. 2025
At the same time, a pre-feasibility study for the Corozal Port is advancing into the contracting phase, with results expected in the first quarter of 2026.
—Lori Ann Larocco, CNBC, 19 Sep. 2025
The team was aided by architectural firm Elysian Group, who also oversaw contracting and landscaping work.
—Juliet Izon, Architectural Digest, 17 Sep. 2025
Economists and researchers agreed that a healthy economy encourages families to have more children to reproduce, while a contracting economy can lead some families to hold off on children.
—Mabinty Quarshie, The Washington Examiner, 13 Sep. 2025
In government contracting, where bids are competitive and profitability is not always a factor, this model persists.
—Ryan Gray, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 5 Oct. 2025
Only the structures that were already gravitationally bound together at that moment, not including the structures that were still collapsing and contracting on their way to becoming gravitationally bound, will actually be able to hold together.
—Ethan Siegel, Big Think, 3 Oct. 2025
The audit found the district also didn’t look into problems with BusPatrol’s implementation of programs in New York and Pennsylvania, which were publicly documented prior to Miami-Dade schools contracting with the vendor.
—Miami Herald, 3 Oct. 2025
People contracting with the federal government are not protected with a back-pay guarantee and their status depends on their private employer.
—Ronald J. Hansen, AZCentral.com, 3 Oct. 2025
Carr ends up tripping and falling down stairs, eating soup laced with Plan B One Step emergency contraceptive, and getting doused in cat feces, which leads to him contracting toxoplasmosis, a parasite that can be transferred to fetuses during pregnancy.
—Tiney Ricciardi, Denver Post, 25 Sep. 2025
Nearly two years after contracting respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, Green, now aged 72, still suffers from chest congestion and a phlegmy cough.
—Liz Szabo, Scientific American, 23 Sep. 2025
However, there are others ways that Hepatitis B can be spread and long-term health consequences to contracting it.
—Erin Mansfield, USA Today, 22 Sep. 2025
Steve Martin has canceled two comedy tour stops over the weekend after contracting COVID, the Only Murders in the Building star shared on Instagram.
—Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 20 Sep. 2025
Noun
Nichole Atallah, a partner who specializes in labor and government contracting at the law firm PilieroMazza, said the general rule is that contract workers aren’t made whole after a shutdown.
—Matt Egan, CNN Money, 7 Oct. 2025
At the meeting, school board member Danny Espino proposed contracting with the Florida Division of Administrative Hearings, based in Tallahassee, which uses administrative law judges to hear challenges to traffic citations virtually.
—Miami Herald, 3 Oct. 2025
Years, and Bay Area careers in contracting and the restaurant industry later, the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta became his summer home.
—Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 26 Sep. 2025
Carriers on the trade lane are working around the contracting utilization by blanking sailings and adjusting schedules.
—Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 22 Sep. 2025
At the same time, a pre-feasibility study for the Corozal Port is advancing into the contracting phase, with results expected in the first quarter of 2026.
—Lori Ann Larocco, CNBC, 19 Sep. 2025
The team was aided by architectural firm Elysian Group, who also oversaw contracting and landscaping work.
—Juliet Izon, Architectural Digest, 17 Sep. 2025
Economists and researchers agreed that a healthy economy encourages families to have more children to reproduce, while a contracting economy can lead some families to hold off on children.
—Mabinty Quarshie, The Washington Examiner, 13 Sep. 2025
In government contracting, where bids are competitive and profitability is not always a factor, this model persists.
—Ryan Gray, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
Verb
With so many opportunities for germs to spread, contracting a foodborne illness from eating at a restaurant is not unheard of.
—Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 5 Oct. 2025
Only the structures that were already gravitationally bound together at that moment, not including the structures that were still collapsing and contracting on their way to becoming gravitationally bound, will actually be able to hold together.
—Ethan Siegel, Big Think, 3 Oct. 2025
The audit found the district also didn’t look into problems with BusPatrol’s implementation of programs in New York and Pennsylvania, which were publicly documented prior to Miami-Dade schools contracting with the vendor.
—Miami Herald, 3 Oct. 2025
People contracting with the federal government are not protected with a back-pay guarantee and their status depends on their private employer.
—Ronald J. Hansen, AZCentral.com, 3 Oct. 2025
Carr ends up tripping and falling down stairs, eating soup laced with Plan B One Step emergency contraceptive, and getting doused in cat feces, which leads to him contracting toxoplasmosis, a parasite that can be transferred to fetuses during pregnancy.
—Tiney Ricciardi, Denver Post, 25 Sep. 2025
Nearly two years after contracting respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, Green, now aged 72, still suffers from chest congestion and a phlegmy cough.
—Liz Szabo, Scientific American, 23 Sep. 2025
However, there are others ways that Hepatitis B can be spread and long-term health consequences to contracting it.
—Erin Mansfield, USA Today, 22 Sep. 2025
Steve Martin has canceled two comedy tour stops over the weekend after contracting COVID, the Only Murders in the Building star shared on Instagram.
—Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 20 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contracting
Noun
-
The team successfully demonstrated quantum squeezing of the motion of a nanoscale particle, a motion whose uncertainty is smaller than the quantum mechanical fluctuations usually considered the ultimate limit.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
19 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
That led to millions more people getting coverage, some of whom paid little or nothing, and more plans being offered.—
Todd Spangler,
Freep.com,
4 Oct. 2025
-
Now, its most iconic silhouettes from the archive are getting a new lease on life — just in time to the brand’s 120th anniversary.—
Stacia Datskovska,
Footwear News,
3 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Trump insists that trillions in new investment are flowing in, the trade deficit is shrinking, and the nation is flush enough to consider mailing out checks.—
Eva Roytburg,
Fortune,
4 Oct. 2025
-
Most pressing is inflation – but there’s also Japan’s demographic crisis, with a rapidly aging population, falling birthrate, shrinking workforce, and growing costs of elder care and welfare.—
Jessie Yeung,
CNN Money,
3 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
This set is crafted out of a durable ripstop nylon material that’s squishy and flexible and works great at compressing even bulkier clothing like sweaters and jeans.—
Asia London Palomba,
Travel + Leisure,
6 Oct. 2025
-
That concentration makes capture relatively straightforward by routing the exhaust through chemical scrubbers, binding the CO2, compressing and storing it underground.—
Tejasri Gururaj,
Interesting Engineering,
3 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Sernatinger said the union hopes to begin bargaining in October, after settling a dispute with Pathfinders management over which positions were covered under OPEIU Local 39.—
Francesca Pica,
jsonline.com,
19 Sep. 2025
-
Contenders for the leadership of Brazil’s right wing coalition are already emerging and are bargaining for Bolsonaro’s endorsement for being presidential candidates in the 2026 elections.—
Adriana Carranca,
Time,
12 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Over-the-counter compression stockings are not expensive and are similar to support panty hose.—
Bryant Stamford,
Louisville Courier Journal,
2 Oct. 2025
-
Accessories that multitask, like a scarf that doubles as a blanket, or compression socks that look like regular crew socks.—
Alesandra Dubin,
Southern Living,
2 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Will Shipley would be more of the pass-catching value, and Dillon the early-down and goal-line option, not to say both can’t do both things — hence, the hot hand (and hence for the second time).—
Jake Ciely,
New York Times,
7 Oct. 2025
-
But the Patriots gave it right back as Rhamondre Stevenson, who has had trouble fumbling early this season, was stripped after catching a pass from Maye.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
6 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Remove jewelry or constricting clothing quickly, before any swelling begins.—
Ella Gonzales,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
29 Sep. 2025
-
Relationships that feel financially or emotionally constricting may feel harder to ignore now.—
Dossé-Via Trenou,
Refinery29,
29 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Contracting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contracting. Accessed 10 Oct. 2025.
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