as in compression
the act or process of reducing the size or volume of something by or as if by pressing
most substances undergo contraction when cooled
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of contraction
The rubber band helps players perform an elastic muscle contraction while jumping at the same time, producing a plyometric contraction, which helps develop the kind of muscle power that leads to the explosiveness footballers need.
—
Mario Cortegana, New York Times, 19 Oct. 2025
With the help of Cone Health Women's & Children's Center at Moses Cone Hospital staff, the couple — who was determined to share a last name before welcoming their baby girl into the world — still managed to wed, with Smith attending the ceremony while having contractions, the hospital revealed.
—Becca Longmire, PEOPLE, 17 Oct. 2025
Italian scientist Alessandro Volta studied eel physiology to inspire the first battery, and recent work shows eels use doublets, two rapid spikes, to force rapid prey muscle contractions before the knockout blast.
—Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 17 Oct. 2025
The consensus looks for a 64 basis point contraction in profit margins this year, fading to 28 basis points for 2026 and then 8 to 10 basis points in 2027-28.
—Jeff Cox, CNBC, 16 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for contraction
Mario Cortegana, New York Times, 19 Oct. 2025
With the help of Cone Health Women's & Children's Center at Moses Cone Hospital staff, the couple — who was determined to share a last name before welcoming their baby girl into the world — still managed to wed, with Smith attending the ceremony while having contractions, the hospital revealed.
—Becca Longmire, PEOPLE, 17 Oct. 2025
Italian scientist Alessandro Volta studied eel physiology to inspire the first battery, and recent work shows eels use doublets, two rapid spikes, to force rapid prey muscle contractions before the knockout blast.
—Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 17 Oct. 2025
The consensus looks for a 64 basis point contraction in profit margins this year, fading to 28 basis points for 2026 and then 8 to 10 basis points in 2027-28.
—Jeff Cox, CNBC, 16 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for contraction
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contraction
Noun
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On long flights, your legs tend to swell, leading to discomfort, cramping, and even numbness—but a good pair of compression leggings, like this pick from CompressionZ, can prevent those symptoms.—
Hillary Maglin,
Travel + Leisure,
23 Oct. 2025
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Let’s build a new ladder, one that moves us from compression to expansion.—
Chris Schembra,
Rolling Stone,
22 Oct. 2025
Noun
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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
Noun
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The effort has also faced criticism over transparency after reports revealed that more than 2,000 people involved were required to sign nondisclosure agreements, limiting public access to spending and contracting details.—
Martha McHardy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 Oct. 2025
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Cattle farmers are well-equipped to deal with dwindling flock sizes, which are a part of about a decade-long cycle of a natural swelling and contracting of livestock populations as result of cattles’ biological life cycle, Peel said.—
Sasha Rogelberg,
Fortune,
21 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Inside, temperature layers could create condensation to support plant growth.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
23 Oct. 2025
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Paint will degrade over time in unregulated temperatures, especially as weather fluctuates for the seasons, and electronics will collect condensation in their circuit boards, internal pieces, and electrical equipment—all of which will cause warping and corrosion over time.—
Michelle Mastro,
Architectural Digest,
23 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The data, released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) Wednesday, shows that the financial squeeze on consumers and businesses remains high, but there are hopes this could be the peak.—
Holly Ellyatt,
CNBC,
22 Oct. 2025
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It can be enjoyed plain, sweetened, or with a squeeze of lemon.—
Jillian Kubala,
Health,
22 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Physical changes which happen during menopause that have to do with dilation or constriction of the blood vessels and impact body temperature are known as vasomotor symptoms.—
Helen Carefoot,
Flow Space,
17 Oct. 2025
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The receptors control constriction and dilation in the smooth muscle fibers in the walls of these blood vessels.—
Kristen Rogers,
CNN Money,
12 Oct. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Contraction.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contraction. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
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