Synonyms of contracting

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• squeezing
• compression
• condensing
• contraction
• squeeze
• condensation
• consolidation
• constriction
• compaction
• constricting
• telescoping
• compacting
• concentration
• shortening
• curtailment
• decreasing
• abbreviation
• streamlining
• abridgment
• simplification
• lessening
• diminishment

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• expansion
• dispersion
• scattering
• inflation
• decompression
• dissipation
• swelling
• dilation
• distension

contracting

2 of 2

verb

present participle of contract

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

• getting
• catching
• taking
• coming down (with)
• going down (with)
• sickening (with)
• weakening
• worsening
• dying (from)
• succumbing (to)
• failing
• sinking
• breaking out (with)
• languishing
• wasting (away)
• withering
• wilting

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• recovering
• gaining
• healing
• coming back
• recuperating
• mending
• shaking (off)
• recouping
• recovering (from)
• rebounding
• snapping back
• rallying

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

• shrinking
• compressing
• decreasing
• condensing
• constricting
• collapsing
• flattening
• withdrawing
• diminishing
• retreating
• shriveling
• dwindling
• drying up
• lessening
• receding
• withering
• deflating
• wilting
• abating

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• expanding
• swelling
• increasing
• growing
• accumulating
• snowballing
• ballooning
• inflating
• puffing (up)
• ballooning

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

• compressing
• squeezing
• condensing
• consolidating
• packing
• collapsing
• constricting
• compacting
• narrowing (down)
• telescoping
• constringing
• simplifying
• capsuling
• capsulizing
• cramming
• shortening
• curtailing
• downsizing
• shrinking
• decreasing
• crowding
• jamming
• abridging
• streamlining
• concentrating
• abbreviating
• diminishing
• jam-packing
• boiling down
• lessening

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• expanding
• opening
• dilating
• dispersing
• scattering
• dissipating
• decompressing
• swelling
• outspreading
• outstretching
• inflating
• distending

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

• bargaining
• agreeing
• covenanting
• coming to terms
• arranging
• underwriting
• striking a bargain
• coming around
• subscribing
• coming round
• settling

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• differing
• disagreeing
• dissenting
• revoking
• canceling
• arguing
• objecting
• contesting
• disputing
• reneging

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of contracting

Noun

Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway’s office on Thursday defended its decision to sue Kansas City over a contracting program using a plaintiff who had pleaded guilty to paying bribes for contracts years ago. — Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 24 July 2026

The live capture was filmed in London’s West End, where costs are lower, but where there’s also a different contracting set up, so that all cast members leave and start at the same time. — Caitlin Huston, HollywoodReporter, 23 July 2026

Federal contracting rules and domestic-content requirements could also create near-term bottlenecks while US production capacity remains limited. — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 18 July 2026

But individual Canadian provinces usually bear the burden of buying or contracting for such firefighting aircraft, and every available aircraft has often been required to fight wildfires in recent years. — Jeremy Hsu, ArsTechnica, 17 July 2026

But the level of new funding, including with contracting practices, has had little oversight. — Eduardo Cuevas, USA Today, 16 July 2026

In the process, longstanding federal contracting controls were set aside, no-bid contracts were awarded, and superficial cosmetic work was performed that staff warned would have to be redone. — Harrison Jacobs, ARTnews.com, 13 July 2026

Based on a Facebook page for Mora’s contracting business, the real estate company only flipped one other property aside from Evangelista’s home. — Sacbee.com, 7 July 2026

Musk and his companies have become increasingly important players in Republican politics and federal contracting. — Luke Fountain,justin Papp, CNBC, 3 July 2026

Verb

Eating raw eggs increases the risk of contracting Salmonella, a harmful bacterium that causes food poisoning. — Amy Brownstein, Verywell Health, 23 July 2026

Two had suppressed immune systems before contracting the disease. — Susanne Rust follow, Los Angeles Times, 23 July 2026

Employers are contracting more interns even as concerns grow that artificial intelligence will eliminate many of the entry-level jobs new workers would typically get. — Ira Porter, Christian Science Monitor, 21 July 2026

Take 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, 17 July 2026

None of those justifications appear to apply here, according to contracting experts and former staffers consulted by ProPublica. — Anna Maria Barry-Jester, ProPublica, 17 July 2026

People who cared for an infected baby would be at very high risk of contracting the virus. — Helen Branswell, STAT, 16 July 2026

Yuba City resident Michelle Reinhart said the disease left her essentially paralyzed, unable to move her hands or head for about two weeks after contracting the disease in 2015. — Alula Alderson, Sacbee.com, 14 July 2026

The extra heating deep down will also impact the future of these sub-Neptune planets, since the extra heat will keep their lower atmosphere bloated and prevent the planet from contracting over billions of years. — Keith Cooper, Space.com, 13 July 2026