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
This is the act of a yogi controlling an eccentric contraction.
—
William Jones, Ascend Agency, 13 Apr. 2026
Creatine also plays a role in heart contraction and energy metabolism.
—Daryl Austin, USA Today, 12 Apr. 2026
But in 2025, Li said 25 countries decreased their development assistance to poorer countries, leading to a 23% overall drop from 2024, the largest annual contraction on record.
—ABC News, 10 Apr. 2026
That heating triggers contraction in the polymer, which drives motion.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 9 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for contraction
William Jones, Ascend Agency, 13 Apr. 2026
Creatine also plays a role in heart contraction and energy metabolism.
—Daryl Austin, USA Today, 12 Apr. 2026
But in 2025, Li said 25 countries decreased their development assistance to poorer countries, leading to a 23% overall drop from 2024, the largest annual contraction on record.
—ABC News, 10 Apr. 2026
That heating triggers contraction in the polymer, which drives motion.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 9 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for contraction
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contraction
Noun
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From skipping compression socks to forgetting a backup battery, the same rookie errors show up again and again—and each one has a simple, often affordable fix.—
Samantha Leal,
Travel + Leisure,
18 Apr. 2026
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This is the compression stroke of the engine, and the valves will be closed sealing off the combustion chamber to moisture.—
John Paul Senior Manager Public Affairs And Traffic Safety Aaa Northeast,
Hartford Courant,
17 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Concacaf is not the only confederation squeezing games into FIFA windows around the club calendar.—
Tamerra Griffin,
New York Times,
13 Mar. 2026
-
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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Responsible contracting can help.—
Sarah Dadush,
Footwear News,
14 Apr. 2026
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And procurement cycles, contracting, and industrial capacity do not scale quickly.—
Veronique De Rugy,
Oc Register,
13 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Level up your coffee game with this travel mug that keeps liquids hot or cold without any exterior condensation.—
Michele Laufik,
Martha Stewart,
16 Apr. 2026
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These droplets are due to condensation from changing temperatures, not necessarily to spoilage.—
Sarah Bence,
Verywell Health,
6 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Light spring pastas, cookies, and even cheeses can all benefit from a squeeze of fresh lemon juice.—
Staff Author,
Better Homes & Gardens,
18 Apr. 2026
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Hamilton then got a bunt single to put runners on the corners before Ortiz dropped his safety squeeze.—
Steve Megargee,
Chicago Tribune,
17 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Lungs Starting at around 9,000 feet, your lungs may begin to swell due to a constriction of blood vessels, which can cause fluid to leak and accumulate.—
Brad Stulberg,
Outside,
26 Mar. 2026
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Egypt as a state of mind The Hebrew name for Egypt, Mitzrayim, shares a root with the word for narrowness or constriction.—
Rabbi Bruce D. Forman,
Sun Sentinel,
25 Mar. 2026
Video
On Contractions of Multiple Words
You all would not have guessed some of these
Cite this Entry
“Contraction.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contraction. Accessed 20 Apr. 2026.
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