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 apparatus sent pulses to the cardiac muscle to establish normal and regular contractions.
—
Scott Lafee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Oct. 2025
The contraction — the company also notched a monthly sales decline in September, unlike other large Chinese EV brands — comes as BYD slashed its sales goal for the year.
—Matthew Martin, semafor.com, 6 Oct. 2025
Though just below the line, the slip into contraction is the first since May 2020, just two months after the pandemic was officially declared.
—Sean Conlon,pia Singh, CNBC, 2 Oct. 2025
Business confidence has been mixed as the manufacturing index continues to indicate the sector is in contraction, while other business confidence measures indicate mixed expectations about the future.
—John W. Diamond, The Conversation, 2 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for contraction
Scott Lafee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Oct. 2025
The contraction — the company also notched a monthly sales decline in September, unlike other large Chinese EV brands — comes as BYD slashed its sales goal for the year.
—Matthew Martin, semafor.com, 6 Oct. 2025
Though just below the line, the slip into contraction is the first since May 2020, just two months after the pandemic was officially declared.
—Sean Conlon,pia Singh, CNBC, 2 Oct. 2025
Business confidence has been mixed as the manufacturing index continues to indicate the sector is in contraction, while other business confidence measures indicate mixed expectations about the future.
—John W. Diamond, The Conversation, 2 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for contraction
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contraction
Noun
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Carroll athletes also have access to new recovery tools, including a room with compression boots and another stocked with Legendary Foods products — the company donates about $4,000 worth of protein products each week.—
Charles Baggarly
October 9,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
9 Oct. 2025
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The call-taker counted out loud with them to help keep the chest compressions at a steady pace.—
Judy L. Thomas,
Kansas City Star,
9 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The team successfully demonstrated quantum squeezing of the motion of a nanoscale particle, a motion whose uncertainty is smaller than the quantum mechanical fluctuations usually considered the ultimate limit.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
19 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Nichole Atallah, a partner who specializes in labor and government contracting at the law firm PilieroMazza, said the general rule is that contract workers aren’t made whole after a shutdown.—
Matt Egan,
CNN Money,
7 Oct. 2025
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At the meeting, school board member Danny Espino proposed contracting with the Florida Division of Administrative Hearings, based in Tallahassee, which uses administrative law judges to hear challenges to traffic citations virtually.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
3 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Desert lizards evolved scales that channel condensation directly to their mouths.—
Tejasri Gururaj,
Interesting Engineering,
25 Sep. 2025
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Sisters flit in and out of the house while others gab about the new semester, sipping on iced coffees that are quickly gathering condensation.—
Haley Sawyer,
Oc Register,
4 Sep. 2025
Noun
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If prices rise, a rush to close short positions can lead to a short squeeze where traders pile back into the asset, pushing prices higher.—
Chloe Taylor,
CNBC,
8 Oct. 2025
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That’s why jalapeños are often served with sour cream or a squeeze of lime.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
8 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Alabama gave Georgia its first home loss in six years with a 24-21 constriction; Oregon rode a pair of Moores (Dante and Dakorien) to bum out Happy Valley in extra time.—
Steven Louis Goldstein,
New York Times,
1 Oct. 2025
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Yet what might sound like constriction has yielded sharper collaboration.—
Jasmine Browley,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Contraction.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contraction. Accessed 11 Oct. 2025.
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