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 airline confirmed a passenger on flight 478 started to have contractions while still in the air on the way to Oregon.
—
Irene Wright, USA Today, 27 Apr. 2026
The contraction within the core muscles is exactly the same engagement that happens during core-stabilization training.
—Matt Parrott, Arkansas Online, 26 Apr. 2026
This method is modeled after biological systems, specifically human muscles, where proteins slide past one another to cause contraction.
—Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 25 Apr. 2026
For the World Bank, a global recession amounts to a contraction in global per capita GDP; while the IMF considers GDP growth below 2% sufficient to warrant the label of a recession.
—Max Zahn, ABC News, 24 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for contraction
Irene Wright, USA Today, 27 Apr. 2026
The contraction within the core muscles is exactly the same engagement that happens during core-stabilization training.
—Matt Parrott, Arkansas Online, 26 Apr. 2026
This method is modeled after biological systems, specifically human muscles, where proteins slide past one another to cause contraction.
—Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 25 Apr. 2026
For the World Bank, a global recession amounts to a contraction in global per capita GDP; while the IMF considers GDP growth below 2% sufficient to warrant the label of a recession.
—Max Zahn, ABC News, 24 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for contraction
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contraction
Noun
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If damp places are unavoidable, try compression or vacuum bags and a plastic bin with a lid.—
Melissa Epifano,
The Spruce,
1 May 2026
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The synthetic fiber is derived from petrochemicals and must meet high-performance standards for activewear and compression.—
Alexandra Harrell,
Footwear News,
30 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
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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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One exercise involved lightly pressing down on the abdomen in specified areas surrounding the belly button, while the other required contracting the hips in a bridge motion.—
Lindsey Leake,
NBC news,
29 Apr. 2026
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Mellencamp grew up modestly but comfortably in the idyllic town of Seymour, Indiana, the son of a mother who was an artist and nascent beauty queen, and a father who worked a white-collar job with a local electrical contracting firm.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
29 Apr. 2026
Noun
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His favorite example is capturing condensation from air conditioners, typically by placing a bucket under outdoor drainpipes.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
30 Apr. 2026
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And Surfaces Wood soaks up moisture like a sponge, but condensation will cling to the paint on cement walls.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
30 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Peters executed a safety squeeze later in the inning, bringing in Antonacci to extend the Sox lead to 4-0.—
LaMond Pope,
Chicago Tribune,
3 May 2026
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An 81% compression of the household margin is a historic squeeze.—
Katica Roy,
Fortune,
2 May 2026
Noun
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While Gold concurred that the ports will not be significantly impacted by the Iran war, the rising fuel costs due to the constriction of traffic through the Strait of Hormuz could eventually effect retailers and consumers.—
Glenn Taylor,
Footwear News,
16 Apr. 2026
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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
Video
On Contractions of Multiple Words
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Cite this Entry
“Contraction.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contraction. Accessed 6 May. 2026.
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