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contraction

noun

kən-ˈtrak-shən How to pronounce contraction (audio)
Definition of contractionnext
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 contraction Squeeze your muscles, and the app translates the contraction into a game or a moving graphic in real time. — Samantha Agate, Miami Herald, 15 Sep. 2026 Foreign direct investment in Europe fell seven percent in 2025, part of a broader global contraction driven by geopolitical uncertainty. — Jonas Nahm, Foreign Affairs, 14 Sep. 2026 Nishiyama and his team compared maps showing faults and other geologic signs of contraction at Mercury with newer maps highlighting surface roughness. — Marcia Dunn, Los Angeles Times, 13 Sep. 2026 The winds become more severe at elevation, where the contraction of the atmosphere along ridgelines and mountain peaks could exceed 40-50 mph in parts of the Sierra. — Sean MacAday, Sacbee.com, 11 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for contraction
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contraction
  1. compression
  2. squeezing
  3. contracting
  4. condensation
  5. squeeze
  6. constriction
Noun
  • My pilot father wouldn’t step foot on a plane without a pair of compression socks to help circulate blood and stop uncomfortable swelling.
    — Abbey Hudetz, Travel + Leisure, 18 Sep. 2026
  • Pneumatic compression boots, once mostly seen in physical therapy clinics and pro locker rooms, are now showing up on kitchen chairs and living room floors, marketed for everything from lymphatic drainage to post-workout recovery.
    — Samantha Agate, Charlotte Observer, 17 Sep. 2026
Definition of compression
Noun
  • So scientists use frequency-dependent squeezing to reduce quantum noise.
    — Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 22 May 2026
  • Maenpaa added that the physical act of squeezing creates a sensory anchor.
    — Samantha Agate, Charlotte Observer, 7 May 2026
Definition of squeezing
Noun
  • Officials said the overall risk of contracting measles is low for people who are fully vaccinated.
    — Adam Thompson, CBS News, 17 Sep. 2026
  • The Department of Defense is piloting a new tech contracting model, where companies can work at automating department processes and earn a percentage of the savings.
    — Benjamin Guggenheim, Washington Post, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of contracting
Noun
  • The vapors that had risen from warm bodies in the pews would have carried syllables mixed with candle-soot, distilled as condensation on the chapel windows.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 22 Sep. 2026
  • When the lid is locked, condensation builds up and drips back into the dish, which can thin sauces and dilute seasoning.
    — Jessica Safavimehr, Southern Living, 19 Sep. 2026
Definition of condensation
Noun
  • Act+Acre Microfiber Hair Towel Act+Acre’s popular flat towel comes with instructions for a specific technique —blot and squeeze, no rubbing.
    — Valeriya Chupinina, Vogue, 22 Sep. 2026
  • If the Strait of Hormuz reopened and both Russian and Iranian refineries were repaired promptly, prices could decrease, easing the globe’s record-breaking diesel squeeze.
    — Victoria Hoffmann, Christian Science Monitor, 19 Sep. 2026
Definition of squeeze
Noun
  • These snakes kill their prey by constriction and then swallow it whole.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Those whose feet are wont to slip out of their kicks while in motion will be happy to know that the Novablast 6’s tongue and overall construction locks the entire foot in without constriction.
    — Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of constriction

Browse Nearby Words

contracting (for)
contraction
contracts
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Contraction.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contraction. Accessed 23 Sep. 2026.

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