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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Relevance

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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

Crosby criticized outsourcing, suggesting a key move for the city would be spending less on contracting. —

David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Mar. 2026 The resolution is strongly worded but also filled with caveats — noting that the district will comply with contracting and procurement laws. —

Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 11 Mar. 2026 By identifying processing conditions compatible with thermal drawing, the team successfully produced fibers that respond to voltage by bending, contracting, and generating undulating movements in three dimensions, according to a press release. —

Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 11 Mar. 2026 Cruver will lead the county’s finance department, including budget preparation, accounting and financial reporting, payroll, investment and debt management, and purchasing and contracting. —

Imani Cruzen, Twin Cities, 9 Mar. 2026 Then a lungful of contracting air, followed by a ballooning rush of sound. —

Literary Hub, 9 Mar. 2026 The sector has long been considered to be safeguarded from the factors that have led to a growing period of contracting employment in most other industries, such as tariffs, AI, and other economic uncertainties. —

Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 9 Mar. 2026 The adults were arrested on suspicion of theft from an elder, theft by false pretenses, conspiracy, contracting without a license and other offenses. —

Tim Fang, CBS News, 6 Mar. 2026 Several news outlets, including Politico, have previously reported on aspects of Lewandowski’s involvement in contracting at DHS. —

Joshua Kaplan, ProPublica, 4 Mar. 2026

Verb

That contract lapsed after then-President Joe Biden issued an executive order barring the Department of Justice from contracting with private prisons. —

Matthew Kelly, Kansas City Star, 11 Mar. 2026 How to avoid contracting HMPV Infectious-disease experts said the best way to avoid contracting HMPV is similar to preventing other respiratory illnesses. —

Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 4 Mar. 2026 Since 2024, the CDC has received reports of a little over 70 people contracting bird flu, most of whom developed relatively mild symptoms. —

Sarah Volpenhein, jsonline.com, 27 Feb. 2026 Home births became more popular during the pandemic, when hospital deliveries came with a risk of contracting Covid and few visitors were allowed. —

Aria Bendix, NBC news, 26 Feb. 2026 State Comptroller Sean Scanlon is backing legislation that would cut off companies that commit wage theft from contracting with the state. —

P.r. Lockhart, Hartford Courant, 25 Feb. 2026 New vaccines, however, are usually compared with older vaccines because it’s considered unethical, not to mention unwise, to put children at risk of contracting a vaccine-preventable disease. —

Tom Bartlett, The Atlantic, 24 Feb. 2026 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

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

Definition of squeezing